Future generations seem abstract, so empathy fails to curb environmental harm

Evidence

Current generations are engaging in environmentally degrading practices that will make life worse for future generations. … Because our descendants seem like remote abstractions to us, it is difficult to arouse empathic concern and moral self-sanctions, both of which would curb environmentally harmful practices. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 2627

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the temporality / discounting literature in behavioral economics (future discounting, hyperbolic discounting) and to climate-justice arguments.