Garrett Hardin Lifeboat Ethics Summary

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Lifeboat Ethics by Garrett Hardin I. Hunger A. 10,000 starve to death each day B. 2 billion (33%) are malnourished C. 460 million permanently hungry D. Jacqueline Kasun: 2% seriously hungry II. Introduction A. “Spaceship Earth” won’t work: a spaceship has a captain, ordered B. Incrementalism won’t work C. Responsibilities before rights III. Lifeboat Ethics A. Each nation is a lifeboat with a carrying capacity B. Average per capita GNP: poor countries: $200; rich countries: $3,000, USA: $5,000 C. We are in our lifeboat and we see those from poor nations swimming beside us. What…show more content…
Ratchet Effect A. World Food Bank: moves wealth from rich to poor countries B. Goal: for a population to equilibrate below the carrying capacity C. Natural: go beyond carrying capacity: diebacks D. If a poor nation can declare an “emergency” and receive food, a population escalator is formed; eventually the system collapses E. Benign demographic transition: unrealistic 1. GNP rises, birth rate will fall 2. GNP is rising everywhere 3. Therefore, no need to control population 4. Therefore, promote economic development and population will control itself; people will want fewer children F. Before 1950: population growth always below 1%; now over 2% (due to higher GNP everywhere VIII. Eco-Destruction via the Green Revolution A. Programs to improve agriculture in poor nations B. Supply food > more people > deplete other resources C. Quality of life for future generations is diminished D. USA can be accused of destroying poor nations by giving food, leading to the destruction of their environments IX. Immigration Creates a
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