Analysis Of Garrett Hardin's The Tragedy Of The Commons

It is a known fact that the world population is increasing without bound; however, there is a debate if this increase is a good thing or if it will prove catastrophic. The article “The Tragedy of the Commons” by Garrett Hardin discusses how the ever-increasing world population will exhaust the world of its natural resources, and eliminate human’s capability of survival. On the other side of the argument is Julian L. Simon who wrote “More People, Greater Wealth, More Resources, Healthier Environment.” This article proposes the theory that with an increase in population, human’s quality of life is amplified. One particular issue that they both mention and have drastically different views on is the future of agriculture and human’s ability to sustain it. Hardin argues how the world only has so many resources and opportunities for agriculture to be expended. Therefore, with enough increase in population, these resources will become extinct. Thus, humans will run out of food and eventually starve to death. As Hardin declares, “a finite world can only support a finite population” (Hardin 98). Simon goes on to discuss how humans always seem to come up with the means to satisfy their needs. When discussing agriculture, he declares an extreme saying that food

This nanotechnology will be placed in the soil to act as receptors to relay information to farmers about the soil, such as pH levels, water levels, nutrition balances, etc. Thus, allowing farmers to never over or under water their crops. This will then lead to close to 100% efficiency in water usage, as no water will be wasted. Such efficiency will allow for a mass amount of crop production through less water use and provide Mother Nature enough time to restore what is used in a natural manner, thus disproving Hardin’s fear about running out of the most essential natural resource, water