Culture is the way humans make sense of the world, one another, and themselves. Culture can provide overarching narratives that promote shared values and inspire how people act in their lives. In order to create more intergenerational fairness we should use the power of culture so that we have people on our side in improving society and human behaviour.

Specifically, culture can...

(1) promote long-term thinking across generations: the ability to plan and act for futures living people will never see. This is also known as cathedral thinking. Medieval cathedrals were often built over centuries and show that it is possible to consider values and benefits that reach far beyond our lifetimes. This will help considering intergenerational fairness. Elderly people can tell younger ones what large projects (big or small) they started that others need to finish for the benefit of all.

(2) normalize transformation over time. Human history and cultural heritage remind us of changing societies and changing ways of life over time. Societies are never permanent and have frequently adapted to major changes by transforming the present and reimagining the future. Culture has often helped people making sense of change, coping with changing ways of life. This is necessary now again, because the present world and many societies and ways of life are not sustainable. Elderly people can tell younger ones how they saw the world, society and their own lives change, helping the young coping now.