From Garrett Hardin’s article “Ten Charming Delusions About Population” (The American Biology Teacher, February, 1975, pages 102-103):
1. We can grow forever, because the world is infinite. If this is true, “anything goes.” If it is not true, we must use our heads. Who wants to use his head when dreaming is so pleasant?
2. Everything will be okay if population grows slowly enough. In a spaceship, this is ridiculous. To exceed the carrying capacity of a spaceship is bad no matter how slow the rate of growth. Over the long term, only a zero population growth rate is tolerable. Overcrowded spaceships are advised to institute negative growth rates for a while. Is ours already overcrowded? What would the “Man from Mars” say?
For a brief biography of Garrett Hardin, click here. For images of and relating to Garrett Hardin, click here.
In the Saunterer’s next post: Delusions 3 and 4.
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