PHIL 2270 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Overgrazing, Carrying Capacity, False Dilemma
14 Jun 2018
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Overpopulation: Hardin
1) It is theoretically impossible to maximize 2 variables simultaneously (population,
goods)
2) If we were to maximize population, then it would be necessary to reach zero
work in terms of energy, reserving the rest for maintenance.
Anything beyond maintenance in the context of maximum population – such as
luxuries including gourmet meals, vacations, sports, music, literature, art, etc. –
would not be allowed.
Optimum population must be below the maximum (carrying capacity)
Tragedy of the commons:
• The ‘commons’ are resources – land, rivers, food – that are not owned by
anyone and can be freely accessed. If we don’t restrict the commons in
some way, they will be over-used, which could result in disaster – starvation,
lack of clean resources, etc.
• Hardin suggests privatization and restriction of the commons: restrictions
could be imposed based on income, merit, other agreed upon standards, or
a lottery.
Example of Tragedy of the Commons: If each farmer adds an animal to their farm
for sales, then the food resources for the animals will be depleted due to
overgrazing.
Two problems that arise as a result of the tragedy of the commons:
1) Pollution: A person reasons that the benefits of dumping wastes into water or air
far outweigh any negatives. But if everyone does this it creates pollution.
2) Overbreeding: If parents have too many children, some of them will die due to
starvation and so the population remains low. But in a welfare state, these children
are kept alive, which leads to overpopulation.
Carrying capacity (k): maximum population of a species that is sustainable in a
given environment with seasonal and random changes.
** If the deer population exceeds k and resources are being depleted, then hunting
is morally acceptable.
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Document Summary
Overpopulation: hardin: it is theoretically impossible to maximize 2 variables simultaneously (population, goods, if we were to maximize population, then it would be necessary to reach zero work in terms of energy, reserving the rest for maintenance. Anything beyond maintenance in the context of maximum population such as luxuries including gourmet meals, vacations, sports, music, literature, art, etc. would not be allowed. Optimum population must be below the maximum (carrying capacity) The commons" are resources land, rivers, food that are not owned by anyone and can be freely accessed. Example of tragedy of the commons: if each farmer adds an animal to their farm for sales, then the food resources for the animals will be depleted due to overgrazing. Two problems that arise as a result of the tragedy of the commons: pollution: a person reasons that the benefits of dumping wastes into water or air far outweigh any negatives. But if everyone does this it creates pollution.
