Garrett Hardin's Article 'The Tragedy Of Commons'

On December 13, 1968, professor Garrett Hardin published an article titled ‘The Tragedy of Commons’. In it, he explicated a depressing theory that predicts the inevitability of human extinction. However, an analysis of Hardin’s article shows that his argument finds basis in several faults axioms. Thus, I find The Tragedy of Commons tragic in the sense that it tragically fails to find root in any form of logical reasoning. Garrett Hardin asks to picture his tragedy as a pasture field. The pasture field is finite, with a finite amount of resources. Multiple herdsmen keep cattle on the field and directly receive profit. As long as there are enough resources covering each herdsman the so called ‘commons’ is prosperous. Eventually, the number of resources ideally matches the number of herdsmen, i.e there are no extra resources for more herdsmen.The tragedy occurs when a herdsman adds one more unit of cattle onto the shared field. The herdsman improves his profit by 1. However, the field is being overgrazed, but the negative consequences are shared by all of the herdsmen while only one is benefiting. To the herdsman who is maximizing profits this is ideal; he benefits, others suffer. According to Hardin, every single rational herdsman will seek to

Hardin theorizes that the same tragedy will occur with humans unless the freedom of having a family is denied and controlled. Hardin assumes that human reproduction is infinitely exponential and that the universe is finite. Hardin even states “Freedom to breed will bring ruin to all.”(Hardin 1248). His theories, if correct, are terrifying. However, the most alarming part of his theories are the lack of solutions for them. “The population problem has no technical solution;” (Hardin). He provides temporary solutions to his field problem, but the population problem is still unsolved. Nevertheless, Hardin is wrong and there is nothing to be afraid