Tragedy of the Commons -- Article and Discussion Questions

Last updated over 3 years ago

8 questions

Tragedy of the Commons -- Article and Discussion Questions

Last updated over 3 years ago

8 questions

Read the essay  "The Tragedy of the Commons" by Garrett Hardin and answer the following questions. (Feel free to make a copy of it for yourself so that you can highlight and annotate it.)

Page 1

Hardin asserts that the tragedy of the commons has no technical solution. Explain what he means by this statement.

What Shall We Maximize?

Why would Hardin believe that “the most rapidly growing populations are the most miserable?”

Tragedy of Freedom in a Commons

Explain Hardin’s claim that “freedom in a commons brings ruin to all” using a real world example.

How to Legislate Temperance

In general, what are the two ways that the Tragedy of the Commons may be avoided?

To what extent are “commoners” (users of a commons) able to act to prevent a tragedy of the commons? In other words, under what conditions can a commons exist and not be destroyed or overused?

Freedom to Breed is Intolerable/Conscience is Self-Eliminating/Pathogenic Effects of Conscience

Why does Hardin believe that we can’t just appeal to people’s conscience to prevent a tragedy of the commons? Specifically, how does this apply to his thoughts on breeding and population growth?

Mutual Coercion, Mutually Agreed Upon

What do you think Hardin means by “mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon”? Give an example from your own life.

Overall:

Tragedy of the Commons -- Article and Discussion Questions

Tragedy of the Commons -- Article and Discussion Questions

Hardin asserts that the tragedy of the commons has no technical solution. Explain what he means by this statement.

Why would Hardin believe that “the most rapidly growing populations are the most miserable?”

Explain Hardin’s claim that “freedom in a commons brings ruin to all” using a real world example.

In general, what are the two ways that the Tragedy of the Commons may be avoided?

To what extent are “commoners” (users of a commons) able to act to prevent a tragedy of the commons? In other words, under what conditions can a commons exist and not be destroyed or overused?

Why does Hardin believe that we can’t just appeal to people’s conscience to prevent a tragedy of the commons? Specifically, how does this apply to his thoughts on breeding and population growth?

What do you think Hardin means by “mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon”? Give an example from your own life.

To what extent do you agree with Hardin’s argument that “freedom to breed will bring ruin to all”?

Hardin asserts that the tragedy of the commons has no technical solution. Explain what he means by this statement.

Why would Hardin believe that “the most rapidly growing populations are the most miserable?”

Explain Hardin’s claim that “freedom in a commons brings ruin to all” using a real world example.

In general, what are the two ways that the Tragedy of the Commons may be avoided?

To what extent are “commoners” (users of a commons) able to act to prevent a tragedy of the commons? In other words, under what conditions can a commons exist and not be destroyed or overused?

Why does Hardin believe that we can’t just appeal to people’s conscience to prevent a tragedy of the commons? Specifically, how does this apply to his thoughts on breeding and population growth?

What do you think Hardin means by “mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon”? Give an example from your own life.

To what extent do you agree with Hardin’s argument that “freedom to breed will bring ruin to all”?