In the article “Lifeboat Ethics,” published in 1974, the American ecologist Garrett Hardin offers an unexpected but quite exciting metaphor of a lifeboat with limited capacity surrounded by hundreds of swimmers. This metaphor demonstrates an ethical dilemma of saving these swimmers: if they are ignored, they will die, and if they are taken aboard, the lifeboat can swamp. Hardin’s article involves several exciting ideas, including resource distribution between rich and lagging countries, the issue of overpopulation in poor states, and the problem of starvation.
Hardin’s primary idea is that significant help to emerging countries will make all states poor. Comparing the country with a boat, the author considers that too many people aboard cause a boat wreck (Hardin, 1974). Therefore, in Hardin’s opinion, “survival of the people in the lifeboat is possible” only if they “admit no more to the boat” (Hardin, 1974, pp. 38-39). Although this idea is cruel and harsh, it is difficult to disagree with his arguments that demonstrate: states’ capacity is not infinite; therefore, resources need to be utilized with caution.
Hardin also pays attention to the problem of overpopulation and the challenges it creates for the world, including the issue of starvation. Considering that the population in developing countries doubles every 21 years, “each American would have more than eight people to share with” (Hardin, 1974, p. 40). Overpopulation can cause starvation of many people because lagging countries have no resources to provide increasing populations with them. Hardin demonstrates that if the tendency to overpopulation does not change, it can cause the situation when resources come to an end.
Hardin’s article contains ideas that can seem non-accepted and too harsh; however, they have a kernel of good sense and need to be thoroughly explored. The ecologist focuses on the modern world’s significant problems: overpopulation, potential starvation, and inappropriate resources allocation. Therefore, although this article involves ideas that it is challenging to agree on, it makes people think about the future and is worthy of being read.
Reference
Hardin, G. (1974). Lifeboat ethics: The case against helping the poor. Psychology Today, 8, 38–43.