What does the following statement best describe: "A responsible society strives to meet its needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs"?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, restating the prompt to frame the analysis: the statement says a responsible society aims to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Now, let's evaluate each option in turn.

A. Precautionary principle
- This principle emphasizes taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty to avoid harm, often in environmental and public health contexts. While related to safeguarding future welfare, it focuses on precaution rather than a balanced intergenerational equity framework. This option is not capturing the explicit aim of sustaining both present and future needs.

B. Tragedy of the commons
- This concept describes the overuse of shared resources when individuals act in self-interest, leading to depletion. It highlights communal resource problems rather than a proactive, forward-looking strategy to meet needs across generations. It critiques behavior rather than prescribing a solution that ensures future generations can meet theirs.

C. Sustainable development
- This is the classic definition aligned with the statement: development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It embodies intergenerational equity, long-term thinking, and balance between economic, social, and environmental goals. This option directly matches the description in the question.

D. Procrastination penalty
- This term refers to a hypothetical or humorous concept about delays causing costs, not a recognized principle of societal planning or intergenerational equity. It misses the substantive idea of sustaining resources and capabilities for the future.

E. Law of physics
- The laws of physics are fundamental natural laws, not a policy or planning framework about intergenerational welfare. While physics sets constraints on systems, it does not describe a societal strategy for meeting needs across generations. This option is unrelated to the concept described.

To summarize the reasoning across options: the preferred framing centers on preserving options for the future while satisfying present demands, which aligns with sustainable development. The remaining options address related ideas or misinterpret the core focus, making them incorrect in this context.

GEO_011_001_25S Exam 3

What does the following statement best describe: "A responsible society strives to meet its needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs"?

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