What Garrett Hardin thinks about demographics
Ecologist, author of "The Tragedy of the Commons" (1915 to 2003); American ecologist and microbiologist who focused his career on human overpopulation; the paper appeared in Science in 1968.
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Garrett Hardin did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
4 dated positions, 1968, in their own words. Our reading of what Garrett Hardin has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Their wordsThe population problem cannot be solved in a technical way, any more than can the problem of winning the game of tick-tack-toe.
↗The Tragedy of the Commons (Science, 1968)garretthardinsociety.org 1st of 6 in this piece
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Our readingA finite world can support only a finite population, so population growth must eventually reach zero
Their wordsA finite world can support only a finite population; therefore, population growth must eventually equal zero.
↗The Tragedy of the Commons (Science, 1968)garretthardinsociety.org 2nd of 6 in this piece
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Their wordsIt is a mistake to think that we can control the breeding of mankind in the long run by an appeal to conscience.
↗The Tragedy of the Commons (Science, 1968)garretthardinsociety.org 4th of 6 in this piece
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Our readingOther, more precious freedoms can be preserved only by giving up the freedom to breed, and soon
Their wordsThe only way we can preserve and nurture other and more precious freedoms is by relinquishing the freedom to breed, and that very soon.
↗The Tragedy of the Commons (Science, 1968)garretthardinsociety.org 6th of 6 in this piece