THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS

Garrett Hardin (1913–2003) was a controversial American ecologist who spent his career at the University of California in Santa Barbara. His main interest was in human overpopulation. He and his wife were members of the Hemlock Society, which promoted the idea that individuals should be able to choose their own time to die. They ended their lives together in 2003. He is best known for his article entitled The tragedy of the commons, which became one of Science journal's most requested articles. It is an ecological conundrum that occurs when many individuals act independently in their own self-interest; they may ultimately destroy a resource, despite the fact that it is not in anyone's best interest to do so. It was Hardin's belief that the problem had no technical solution, and that only a moral solution could apply.