The Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG) and the Intergenerational Foundation (IF) jointly promote and award two biennial prizes, in alternate years: the Demography Prize and the Intergenerational Justice Prize. A total of €10,000 – generously endowed by the Stiftung Apfelbaum – is awarded each year and divided among the winning entrants.
Intergenerational Justice Prize 2022
Write an essay on
“Existential and Unknown Risks for Future Generations”
***DEADLINE 31 MAY 2022***
The Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG) and the London based Intergenerational Foundation (IF) jointly award the biennial Intergenerational Justice Prize, endowed with EUR 10,000 (ten thousand euros) in total prize-money. The prize was initiated and is funded by the Apfelbaum Foundation.
Aim of the competition
Through the prize, the FRFG and IF seek to promote discussion about intergenerational justice in society, and, by providing a scholarly basis to the debate, establish new perspectives for decision-makers. The invitation to enter the competition is extended especially to young academics and students from all disciplines.
Topic Abstract
Existential risks are defined to be all potential dangers that could destroy humanity or deprive it of its discretionary. Humanity does not have to go extinct for this. It would suffice if humanity suffered an irreversible collapse of its civilisation, or if it could no longer freely control its own fate. Such risks can be of man-made or natural origin – what is more, they can also be unknown to us today.
What makes dealing with existential and unknown risks particularly difficult is that we have not been able to gain any experience with them yet. There is this notion that existential risks will fail to materialise or at least not occur during our lifetime.
From a geological-historical point of view humanity is still at the very beginning; most individuals – unless a catastrophic event wipes out humanity – are yet to be born. Thus, proactive action is required on our part in order to give these future generations the chance to realise humanity’s potential. Today’s generation, as a result of the increased means of self-destruction, is called upon to be more considerate than any previous generation.
Submissions
We hereby ask for contributions that consider and analyse the topic from different perspectives. In order to receive the complete submission requirements (formal requirements and an official registration form) for those who are interested, please contact us via e‑mail at kontakt@srzg.de or Liz Emerson at info@if.org.uk with the subject „Intergenerational Justice Prize 2022“.
The submitted papers should be innovative, creative and with a focus on civil society issues, with practical applications. The FRFG and IF particularly appreciate participants trying to explain complex ideas in as simple and accessible terms as possible. Submitted research papers may employ all possible methodological approaches.
The best entries, as judged by a professional jury, will be considered for publication in the next issue of The Intergenerational Justice Review.