The Ethics of a Lifeboat

    

    In "Lifeboat Ethics"(1974), Garret Hardin argues equal distribution is not ethical. The author separates the essay into main arguments, Hardin begins the paragraph with a main idea and gives lots of statistics and analogies that help readers understand his argument. The author uses metaphors and real life examples in order to show readers it is best to govern their actions with the ethics of a lifeboat. Garret Hardin's audience is the citizens of America.
    When I first read the title, my prediction was that the article would be about the ethics and morals of life. I was correct for the most part as it talked about the ethics of prioritizing one's life over another. I remember doing an exercise in my Healthcare class where I was given a scenario where I can only save a certain number of lives and I couldn't save everyone. On the other hand, I think the world problems he talked about such as food shortages and overpopulation are still prevalent in this time period also. But technology is advancing so I think we are good in the long run. 
    The author utilizes various thought-provoking ideals and ethics to portray that sharing the world's resources is not only unrealistic but accelerates the depletion of the few finite resources we have left. Hardin starts off by comparing a hypothetical situation of a lifeboat with how rich and poor nations in the real world behave because of the resources that are available. Hardin states,” And since the world’s resources are dwindling, the difference in prosperity between the rich and the poor can only increase”(Hardin pg.11). Another example of this would be in “The Tragedy of the Commons”. He explains that with everyone having access to the same resource that not everyone will treat it for it to last. Hardin states,” If everyone would restrain himself, all would be well; but it takes only one less than everyone to ruin a system of voluntary restraint. In a crowded world of less than perfect human beings, mutual ruin is inevitable if there are no controls”(Hardin pg.16). All in all the author depicts how and why sharing the world's resources would be impractical and dreadful for all in the grand scheme of humanity.
    



Works Cited 

Hardin, Garrett. “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor” Psychology Today,  
    September 1974. Launchpad Solo for Readers and Writers , 2017. Macmillan Education. 
    macmillanhighered.com.





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