Living Within Limits

Ecology, Economics, and Population Taboos

Garrett Hardin

Book Synopsis

"Living Within Limits" by Garrett Hardin is a thought-provoking exploration of humanity's interactions with the finite resources of our planet. Hardin, known for his groundbreaking work in ecology and population ethics, challenges the prevailing belief that technological progress alone can enable unlimited growth.

In this succinct book, Hardin argues that unrestricted population growth and the relentless pursuit of consumption are unsustainable and detrimental to both our collective well-being and the environment. Through compelling examples and scientific evidence, he demonstrates the tragic consequences of exceeding the carrying capacity of our planet, highlighting issues such as overpopulation, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion.

Hardin argues that the pursuit of common good requires recognizing the necessity of limits. Drawing upon concepts like tragedy of the commons and mutual coercion, he proposes a shift towards a sustainable society that respects natural boundaries and embraces responsible choices. Hardin also delves into the implications of these ideas for ethical decision-making, public policy, and the preservation of future generations.

"Living Within Limits" serves as a wake-up call to individuals, policymakers, and society as a whole, urging us to reevaluate our relationship with nature and to prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains. Hardin's lucid prose and logical reasoning make this book an essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing our planet.

Through "Living Within Limits," Garrett Hardin offers a powerful critique of the prevailing ideology of infinite growth, providing a timely and profound exploration of the limits that we must acknowledge and respect if we are to create a sustainable and thriving future for humanity.

Explore More Books

See All
Creativity and the Brain
Hard Landing
Four Quartets
Where Good Ideas Come From
Intellectuals and Race
Hard Drive
The Belly Art Project
Mandela's Way
The Discovery of France
Proof of Corruption
Barbarian Days
Benjamin Franklin
Pebbles of Perception
The Infinite Game
Prosperity
Gold In The Grass
The Moth Presents All These Wonders
The Closing of the American Mind
Infinite Powers
The Diamond Age
Competitive Strategy
Think Twice
Loonshots
The Future Is Asian
Opportunity Knocks
The Second Machine Age
The Wright Brothers
From Third World to First
Why Does College Cost So Much?
Simple Rules
The Cultural Cold War
The Uninhabitable Earth
Healthy Buildings
The Grid
Six Easy Pieces
DMT: The Spirit Molecule
How to Teach Your Baby Math
The Song Machine
The Inmates Are Running the Asylum
Principles for Dealing With The Changing World Order
Amazon Unbound
Letters To A Young Athlete
Imaginable
Lucky Me
The Salmon of Doubt
How To Be a No Limit Person
Scientific Advertising
Empire of the Summer Moon
Being With Dying
Olives
Walt Disney
Fortitude
More From Less
Thermoinfocomplexity
7 Powers
The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross
The Neverending Story
Deep Work
The Black Book of Communism
Shortcut
Defender In Chief
Social Cognition
Think Like a Rocket Scientist
Rebooting AI
Managing Oneself
Dreamstate
Seeker
The Moment of Lift
The Man Who Solved The Market
Quantum Computing Since Democritus
The Printing Revolution in Early Modern Europe
The Little Book of Bull Moves
Fast-Track Triathlete
Virus of the Mind
The Cost Disease
Heretics of Dune
The Fourth Turning is Here
The Paper Menagerie And Other Stories
Mortal Republic
Syntax & Sage
Hopping Over The Rabbit Hole
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
The History of Money
Technically Food
The Mathematics of Politics
Dog Man
Free The Animal
However Long the Night
Holistic Management
This Explains Everything
The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All
Switch
An Immense World
Learning To Love Yourself
The Wayfinders
How to Change Your Mind
Programming Bitcoin
Revolution from Within
The Energy World Is Flat
The Money Game