Garrett Hardin wrote an essay in which he explained his ideas about the global distribution of resources and inequality between countries. This work is quite radical since Hardin talks about decisions that can be too harsh for certain states and people. The main idea of the essay is the need for tight control of resources, even if such measures cause poorer countries and populations to suffer.
The author argues that resources should not be accumulated in one part of the world, and they should be evenly distributed between countries. Besides, humanity and every country should take care of their optimal use by educating their citizens about saving water and food and avoiding air pollution. However, Hardin (1974) emphasizes that poorer countries should not rely on the help of wealthy states, but learn to plan their budgets and cut costs in the face of limited resources. The author uses the metaphor of a lifeboat in which rich countries sail, and they must carefully choose who can be left onboard or pulled out of the water to stay afloat (Hardin, 1974). According to Hardin, such measures will help humanity to develop, as well as reduce population growth due to lack of resources. He also speaks about the limitation of immigrants in wealthy countries, since they are a cheap labor resource, but they also can deplete the reserves of the state. Thus, “Lifeboat Ethics” has many arguments confirming the ideas of the author; however, the rigidity of these measures causes contradictory feelings in terms of morality and kindness.
References
Hardin, G. (1974). Lifeboat ethics: The case against helping the poor. Web.