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This book investigates the relationship between our present and future selves. It focuses specifically on diachronic self-regarding decisions: choices involving our earlier and later selves, in which the earlier self makes a decision for the later self.The author connects the scientific understanding of the neurobehavioral processes at the core of individuals'perceptions of their future selves with the philosophical reflection on individuals'moral relationship with their future selves. She delineates a descriptive theory of the perception of the future self that is based on empirical evidence and that systematizes and integrates the current theoretical literature. She then argues for the morality of prudence and interprets diachronic self-regarding decisions as decisions between two agents— the earlier and later selves—that belong to the realm of intergenerational ethics, which regulates the relationship between contemporary people and future generations. Finally, the author provides a moral theory of prudence based on respect for one's agency. This theory identifies what the present and the future selves owe to one another in diachronic self-regarding decisions.Moral Choices for Our Future Selves will be of interest to scholars and students working in ethics, moral psychology, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science.

La virtù del voler guardare lontano Saggezza, capacità di governare le passioni e di orientare l'azione al perseguimento di un bene comune di tipo universale: è l'idea di prudenza che ci hanno trasmesso i classici e di cui oggi abbiamo più che mai bisogno. Il pensiero economico dominante concepisce erroneamente la prudenza solo come avversione al rischio; mentre in realtà il problema è vedere al di là dei vantaggi a breve termine e agire secondo una visione di lungo periodo. Ecco allora che la vera sfida è trasferire il principio di prudenza alla sfera collettiva e farlo vivere all'interno del disegno delle istituzioni e dei sistemi di governance delle imprese.

Klugheit ist die Kompetenz, sich selbst im Handeln und Leben zu orientieren. Einstmals als Kardinaltugend hoch angesehen, geriet die Klugheit in der neuzeitlichen Ethik in eine merkwürdige Opposition zu moralischem Denken und Handeln. Luckner analysiert die Klugheitskonzepte unter anderem von Kant, Aristoteles, Machiavelli und Montaigne mit dem Ziel, das Thema'Klugheit als Tugend'für die Ethik wieder zu gewinnen. Interessanterweise erweist sich die Klugheit dabei als relevant auch und gerade für moralphilosophische Überlegungen: Mag Klugheit ohne Moral zwar blind sein, so bleibt umgekehrt Moral ohne Klugheit leer. Luckner zeigt, wie Klugheit als Tugend des sinn- und glücksbezogenen Umgangs mit Ansprüchen normativer Art gedacht werden kann, eine Kompetenz, wie sie gerade in Situationen der Unübersichtlichkeit hochnotwendig ist.