John Broome talks a lot about how we should try to focus on how our current lives will effect those of future generations as opposed to focusing on the here and now. While I agree that we should be aware of possible repercussions we might have on our descendants, I'm a believer in the philosophy that if you help the people around you in the present day that the future will be a better place. So if we were to focus on bettering our world in the present day, than the world would be a better place for future generations as well. So I guess I just don't understand why Broome says that we shouldn't focus on the present day, I mean, how else are we supposed to make the future better if we don't make the present day better? Or perhaps I'm misunderstanding the article...?
Another thing that bothered me was Broome's question, given the choose, would you save a child of the future or a child in the present day? To me this is just not a fair question...its impossible to know what situation this "future child" would be in, so how are you even supposed to chose?? I guess I'd argue that by saving a child in the present day you would indirectly save an entire line of decedents therefore saving one or more future children.
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