Garrett Hardin Lifeboat Ethics Analysis

In his article “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor,” Garrett Hardin claims nations must protect their resources and leave others to fend for themselves. He says if we do not protect ourselves there will be nothing left for the future generations. Harding was a Professor of Ecology educated on the subjects of resource distribution and the application of ecology in western civilization. Dr. Hardin was born in the early 1900’s and lived until 2003. With a Bachelors Degree in Zoology and a PHD in Microbiology, Dr. Hardin was known for his brutally honest thoughts on human overpopulation. His writings were considered inhumane which made him widely criticized. This article was originally published in Psychology Today, a magazine written …show more content…
Hardin’s essay is full of opinions loosely supported by numerical statistics. He jumps from idea to idea instead of going in-depth to the idea of saving only a few. He claims there aren’t enough resources in the world to save all of the world’s population. He asks the human, a being which usually guides itself by the heart not the mind, to stand back instead of helping those in need. He plays on the emotions of parents as he begs the claim if we don’t help others there will not be enough for our children and future posterity. The frustration and anger he expresses towards the government officials running our humanitarian efforts is quite apparent. Dr. Hardin shares quotes from Scientists, statistical data and person observance to prove our efforts on solving world hunger are not working. I do not agree with his opinions of only saving a chosen few, however he makes an excellent point in that our resources will not outlast our population growth. Hardin’s claim is we either make room for those less fortunate or we learn to fend for ourselves and save something for the future. I believe there are solutions which would allow us to help those in need or teach the right tools for them to provide for themselves. We are not clusters of people hovering helpless in a lifeboat. I think it is the responsibility of the human race to make sure we all can all survive with the basic

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Garrett Hardin Lifeboat Ethics Summary

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