Lifeboat Ethics Essay
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Gardner-Webb University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
MISC
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
Pages
7
Uploaded by MegaRhinoceros3848
Essay On Lifeboat Ethics
Most Americans today take things used in daily life for granted because they have never
experienced a lack of or a want for basic necessities. Sometimes, the people in the lifeboat do not
fully grasp the dilemma of those outside the lifeboat because they have never experienced the
situation. The people in the lifeboat are conflicted between trying to be benevolent and help the
people outside the lifeboat while at the same time being influenced by the law of nature for self–
preservation. In my opinion, Garrett Hardin, author of Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping
the Poor, exhibits a realistic approach to the solution of aiding the poor experiencing
overpopulation, starvation, and lack of jobs. Unlike Hardin's writing, Jonathan Swift, author of A
Modest Proposal, had illogical and offensive ideas in the beginning which are not corrected until
later in the story. Swift's idea for eliminating
...show more content...
He used mathematical calculations to calculate which men and women would be breeders based on
infant mortality statistics available to him. Hardin's idea on overpopulation was that nature attempts
to achieve a balance. When one aspects such as population increases, it can have a detrimental effect
on nature's balance in areas such as food, shelter, and necessities. Some causes for overpopulation is
ignorance, irresponsibility, and uncontrolled immigration. "Most educated Hawaiians, for example,
are keenly aware of the limits of their environment, particularly in terms of population growth.
There is only so much room on the islands, and the islanders know it" (Hardin 178). The problem
exists that the original islanders realize that their land has a finite amount. If they wish to hand it
down through inheritances, they must refuse to sell land, but the immigrants who like the islands
want to acquire land enabling them to expand their
Get more content on StudyHub.Vip
Lifeboat Ethical Dilemmas
Lifeboat ethics centers on the ideology of, an increase in the population diminishes the financial
capacity of the country to provide for its needs. Contrarily, a stabilized, if not dwindling population
spells economic prosperity. Yet the problem is no one can claim will full force that a country's limit
is to only this or that extent. To claim that any "excess baggage" in the population is an anathema to
welfare does not provide an ethical argument for the curtailment of population.
Get more content on StudyHub.Vip
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Lifeboat Ethics
In the article "Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor," Garrett Hardin asserts his belief
of helping the less fortunate would cause a negative outcome. Hardin explains the world can be
divided into two parts: the rich and the poor. Metaphorically, the rich would be inside lifeboats while
the poor struggled to survive in the ocean, begging the rich for mercy. Hardin expresses the
passengers must decide what to do about the less fortunate. He suggests recognizing the limited
capacity of each lifeboat; comparable to an area's limited resources and space for large and growing
population. He believes we are first to help others without thinking of the consequences. After
consideration, the passengers have decided the boat can safely
Get more content on StudyHub.Vip
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Lifeboat Ethics Essay
Lifeboat Ethics
Hardin's "Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against the Poor"
– No! You Cannot Come in Garrett Hardin writes about saving the poor in his essay"Lifeboat Ethics:
The Case Against the Poor" found in The Blair Reader. Hardin writes about how the rich countries
are in the lifeboat and the poor countries are swimming in the ocean. He also writes about how the
United States helps other countries. Hardin feels that if the government keeps helping other
countries and letting people in then America will also drown. "We must convince them if we wish to
save at least part of the world form environmental ruin"(page 765). Why should I help the poor
countries? Why should I let the immigrants in? I see no reason for helping someone that
...show more
content...
The middle class people cannot move up. The middle class cannot get ant help from the
government. It makes me mad that the poor Americans do not take advantages of some of the
opportunities available for them. The middle class people sometimes work two or three jobs to pay
for their own or their children's college education. The government should use the money they are
sending to other countries to help the taxpayers. In my family we have just enough money to get by.
I do not see the government knocking on my door handing me food or money. Why should they give
my money to other countries? The government will not help my family because our gross income is
too high to receive any help. Well true maybe our gross income is high, but we do not take all that
money home. The government is taking money out of my paycheck, money that I struggle for, and
giving it to other countries. I have my own dependents to take care of. I should not have to take care
of other people. It was my decision to have my children. If I wanted more dependents, I would have
them. The government also tells me that if I had gotten a used car with cheap payments then I would
have extra money left over. Why should I have to get a used car? If I get a used car, I will only be
spending more money getting it fixed. I am tired of the government giving me excuses on why I do
not need any help. The only reason the government cannot help me is because they do not have the
money. The only reason the
Get more content on StudyHub.Vip