Equality between age-groups.

Area of Science:

• Ethics
• Political Philosophy
• Social Justice

Background:

• Existing moral theories often overlook or inadequately address inequalities between different age groups.
• Age-based discrimination and resource allocation present complex ethical challenges.
• Theories of justice need to account for the specific vulnerabilities and needs of various age cohorts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how standard egalitarian moral theories apply to age-group inequality.
• To critically analyze Norman Daniels' prudential lifespan account of justice.
• To propose alternative frameworks for achieving justice between the young and the old.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of egalitarian moral theories.
• Critical examination of Norman Daniels' theory of justice.
• Development and explanation of new theoretical perspectives on intergenerational justice.

Main Results:

• Familiar egalitarian theories yield intuitively objectionable consequences when applied to age-group inequality.
• Norman Daniels' prudential lifespan account, while specifically designed for age-groups, faces significant criticisms.
• The study identifies two alternative views that offer a more robust approach to justice between age groups.

Conclusions:

• Standard egalitarianism is insufficient for addressing age-group justice.
• Norman Daniels' theory requires revision or replacement.
• New theoretical frameworks are needed to ensure equitable treatment and resource distribution across all age groups.