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Questions and Answers
What is the primary source of energy that organisms need for maintenance and work?
What is the primary source of energy that organisms need for maintenance and work?
What do maintenance calories refer to?
What do maintenance calories refer to?
Which of the following activities requires work calories?
Which of the following activities requires work calories?
What is the author’s position on the technical solutions to the population problem?
What is the author’s position on the technical solutions to the population problem?
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What does the author imply about people concerned with the population problem?
What does the author imply about people concerned with the population problem?
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What must be minimized in order to maximize the population?
What must be minimized in order to maximize the population?
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What conclusion can be drawn from the statement that no technical solution can solve the population problem?
What conclusion can be drawn from the statement that no technical solution can solve the population problem?
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What does the author suggest will happen if work calories approach zero?
What does the author suggest will happen if work calories approach zero?
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What is implied to be the natural criterion for judgment in nature?
What is implied to be the natural criterion for judgment in nature?
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What does the term 'the tragedy of freedom in a commons' refer to?
What does the term 'the tragedy of freedom in a commons' refer to?
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What is the main consequence of each herdsman acting independently according to their best interest?
What is the main consequence of each herdsman acting independently according to their best interest?
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What do herdsmen need to control to achieve an optimum population?
What do herdsmen need to control to achieve an optimum population?
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According to the passage, what must man do to avoid the tragedy outlined?
According to the passage, what must man do to avoid the tragedy outlined?
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What compels each herdsman to continuously increase their herd?
What compels each herdsman to continuously increase their herd?
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What is suggested as necessary for individual decision-making in the context described?
What is suggested as necessary for individual decision-making in the context described?
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What does the passage imply about the implications of laissez-faire policy in shared resources?
What does the passage imply about the implications of laissez-faire policy in shared resources?
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What is considered the great challenge mentioned in the content?
What is considered the great challenge mentioned in the content?
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What is implied about the United Nations in the content?
What is implied about the United Nations in the content?
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How does the content suggest we should view criticism of the United Nations?
How does the content suggest we should view criticism of the United Nations?
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What warning does Robert Louis Stevenson provide in the content?
What warning does Robert Louis Stevenson provide in the content?
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What tactic is criticized in the content regarding the exploitation of commons?
What tactic is criticized in the content regarding the exploitation of commons?
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What is noted as a disadvantage of appealing to conscience?
What is noted as a disadvantage of appealing to conscience?
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Which statement reflects the overarching concern about population control?
Which statement reflects the overarching concern about population control?
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What does the content imply about the role of custodians?
What does the content imply about the role of custodians?
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What has contributed to the prolonged period referred to as the Dark Ages of Eros?
What has contributed to the prolonged period referred to as the Dark Ages of Eros?
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What concept is highlighted as a morality that can be easily understood?
What concept is highlighted as a morality that can be easily understood?
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What system is described as being perceived as unjust yet tolerated?
What system is described as being perceived as unjust yet tolerated?
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What is suggested as a more effective alternative to outright prohibition?
What is suggested as a more effective alternative to outright prohibition?
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What is indicated as a double standard that affects reform measures?
What is indicated as a double standard that affects reform measures?
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What is described as a coercive device to promote temperance in public behavior?
What is described as a coercive device to promote temperance in public behavior?
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What emotional state is suggested to have potentially desirable results?
What emotional state is suggested to have potentially desirable results?
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What societal concept is viewed as preferable to the alternative of total ruin?
What societal concept is viewed as preferable to the alternative of total ruin?
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What does the author suggest is often implied by the word 'coercion'?
What does the author suggest is often implied by the word 'coercion'?
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Which of the following assumptions underlies the rejection of proposed reforms?
Which of the following assumptions underlies the rejection of proposed reforms?
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What is implied about the word 'responsibility' in the context provided?
What is implied about the word 'responsibility' in the context provided?
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What type of coercion does the author recommend?
What type of coercion does the author recommend?
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How does the author view massive propaganda campaigns aimed at instilling responsibility?
How does the author view massive propaganda campaigns aimed at instilling responsibility?
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What does the author imply about the concept of 'nothingness' in relation to action?
What does the author imply about the concept of 'nothingness' in relation to action?
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What does the author mean by 'quid pro quo' in the context of responsibility?
What does the author mean by 'quid pro quo' in the context of responsibility?
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What does the author imply about historical views on reform?
What does the author imply about historical views on reform?
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What was one of the initial actions taken regarding the commons?
What was one of the initial actions taken regarding the commons?
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What concept did individuals agree upon to achieve freedom according to the passage?
What concept did individuals agree upon to achieve freedom according to the passage?
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How is 'freedom' characterized in the context of this passage?
How is 'freedom' characterized in the context of this passage?
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What does the passage suggest about the commons being used for waste disposal?
What does the passage suggest about the commons being used for waste disposal?
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What was the general reaction to the concept of 'rights' and 'freedom' in this context?
What was the general reaction to the concept of 'rights' and 'freedom' in this context?
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Which historical figure is mentioned in connecting freedom to necessity?
Which historical figure is mentioned in connecting freedom to necessity?
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What outcome does the passage suggest might occur without restrictions on the commons?
What outcome does the passage suggest might occur without restrictions on the commons?
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What aspect of individual actions is highlighted when discussing the commons?
What aspect of individual actions is highlighted when discussing the commons?
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Study Notes
The Tragedy of the Commons
- Hardin argues that the population problem demands a fundamental shift in morality, not a technological solution.
- The implicit assumption is that technical solutions exist for all problems, requiring only scientific advancements, but this isn't always true.
- The game of tic-tac-toe serves as an example of a problem with no technical solution. Winning depends on choosing actions outside the structure of the game.
- Population growth naturally increases exponentially in a finite world, leading to a decline in per capita resources.
- A finite world supports a finite population, meaning population growth will eventually reach zero.
- Maximizing population and maximizing goods are mutually exclusive. It is impossible to maximize both simultaneously.
- Biological limitations add a second reason: energy is used for maintenance and work. Maximizing population implies minimizing work calories per person. That would eliminate enjoyment, hobbies and more.
- The tragedy of the commons arises when individuals acting in their self-interest deplete a shared resource.
- The commons is a shared resource, like a pasture. Every individual herdsman maximizes their gain by adding more cattle, but this leads to overgrazing, harming everyone in the group.
Defining the Optimum Population
- The concept of an "optimum" population is challenging to define.
- No society has intuitively solved the problem before.
The "Invisible Hand" Debate
- Adam Smith's idea that individual self-interest promotes the public good is questioned.
- In regards to population, individual decisions to breed don't automatically produce a beneficial result for the whole community.
- The approach to population control based on individual conscience has significant potential limitations and drawbacks.
- The "invisible hand" approach is inadequate for dealing with population challenges.
Mutually Agreed Upon Coercion
- Mutual coercion, agreed upon by the majority, isn't about enjoyment, it's about preventing collective ruin.
- Accepting some regulations, like taxes, can be a better alternative to the potential disaster of unregulated access to shared goods or resources.
The Commons and Pollution
- Pollution problems mirror the commons dilemma.
- A polluter's individual cost of treating pollutants might be less than the effects shared by everyone else using the environment.
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Description
Explore Hardin's arguments regarding the population problem and the morality needed for solutions beyond technology. This quiz delves into the implications of population dynamics and the distinction between maximizing population and resources. Understand the biological limitations that accompany these challenges.
