Examing Garrett Hardin's Arguments in 'Tragedy of The Commons'

Understanding Garrett Hardin's 'Tragedy of the Commons'

The essay 'Tragedy of the Commons' by Garrett Hardin is all about how shared resources like air, water, and land can get used up if everyone takes more than their fair share. Without any rules or limits, these resources can just disappear. Hardin suggests that to stop this from happening, we need some kind of restrictions—maybe things like property rights.

Tackling Overpopulation

Hardin was really into talking about overpopulation. While some folks think technology will save us—like farming the oceans or creating new wheat strains—Hardin doesn’t buy it. He wants people to see that technology alone can't solve the population problem. Why? Because when too many people use a limited resource without any checks, it gets depleted. Take a look around: countries overfish until species go extinct, loud music from car radios disrupts peace, and industries pollute air and water with no care for shared spaces.

All these examples show what he calls "tragedies of the commons." And yeah, they're tied to overpopulation.

The Freedom to Breed

So what does Hardin think we should do? Well, he says we’ve gotta limit human breeding. The big hurdle here is that many people see having kids as a basic right. But merging this "freedom to breed" with unlimited access to common resources? It’s a recipe for disaster. He even criticizes the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights for saying families can decide how many kids to have.

Can Social Change Happen?

Hardin thinks society can change though. He points out that throughout history, people have given up certain freedoms to protect resources—like creating private property or laws about hunting and fishing. As cities grew, rules stopped folks from tossing waste in the streets. Once these rules are set, people get used to them like they were always there.

Hardin believes if we give up the freedom to have as many kids as we want, we'll actually be protecting more valuable freedoms in the long run.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Garrett Hardin's essay shows us that using common resources without limits can lead to them being wiped out. The solution? Set up some kind of regulation—laws or fees—to manage use. This idea isn't just for physical stuff but also knowledge and culture. Hardin warns us: without proper management, future generations might face even bigger issues.

References

• Hardin, G. (1968). The Tragedy of the Commons. Science, 162(3859), 1243-1248.
• Shermer, M. (2001). The Tragedy of the Commons Revisited: A Different Perspective on Overpopulation and Resource Scarcity Issues. Skeptic Magazine.
• Soroos, M.S. (1997). The Endangered Atmosphere: Preserving a Global Commons. University of South Carolina Press.
• Berkes, F., Feeny, D., McCay, B.J., & Acheson, J.M. (1989). The Benefits of the Commons: A Framework for Analyzing Institutional Sustainability. Ecological Economics Journal.
• Pimm, S.L., & Raven P.H. (2000). Biodiversity - Extinction by Numbers Nature Magazine.