In 1974, Garrett Hardin wrote the article “Living in a Lifeboat” that analyzed the negative impact of various measures—like aid to poor nations in the form of the food bank, aid in food productivity, among others—being undertaken by the US and developed countries to help the poorer economies. He argues that many of the programs are not working if not accomplishing the opposite end. More importantly, he argues that the US should not be helping other countries as it should be saving its resources for its own safety and survival. (Hardin)
The problem with Hardin’s article is that it assumes that the US (or any developed country for that matter) would forever be economically prosperous and stable. It does not consider that the safety factors could actually be wiped out. Such an event would make the US be the country to be the one seeking aid from others.
Indeed, such a situation happened in the developed world with the 2008 worldwide economic crisis leading some European Union (EU) countries seeking aid from those less affected by others (BBC). In the aftermath of Typhoon Sandy that devastated several states in the US, a similar situation occurred. Had the individual states been independent of each other, separate lifeboats to use Hardin’s terms, no aid should have been provided by the unaffected ones to the devastated states (Bryce). Aid also came from other countries. It is a situation that Hardin probably never happening in the US. However, it did. The US experience with Typhoon Sandy clearly shows that Hardin’s policy recommendations are untenable. One has to see things from the perspective of the developing world. Aid in the long term—perhaps in the very long term—are reciprocal activities. A country cannot forever be prosperous, self-contained or self-sufficient. When a country—developed or otherwise—suffers from devastation or any similar problems, it would need help. The US had the capability to provide aid before. It was time for other countries to reciprocate that help in some form or another when Typhoon Sandy struck. When all internal systems break, outside help is needed. This is an exaggeration but it is the point. Also, as the EU experience demonstrated, not taking any action help a country in need could ultimately impact on the country initially unaffected by the crisis (BBC).
Following Kant’s philosophy, the validity of Hardin’s arguments would depend on the amount of surplus or safety nets available. One could thus determine what is good for oneself and others. The duty of a person is to save himself first, then to help others. If one country is indeed secure, then it is duty-bound to help others. Given the US’s situation in 1974, perhaps it was duty-bound to help poor nations. Given the US’s situation after Typhoon Sandy (Bryce), the US cannot be expected to help other nations.
Works Cited
BBC. “Eurozone Crisis Explained.” BBC News. 27 Nov 2012. Web. 7 Dec 2012. < >.
Bryce, Emma. “How Should New York Rebuild?”New York Times. 7 Dec 2012. Web. 7 Dec 2012. < >.\
Hardin, Garrett. “Living in a Lifeboat.” First published in BioScience, vol 24(10), pp. 561-568. 1974.The Garrett Hardin Society. Web. 6 Dec 2012. < http://www.garretthardinsociety.org/articles/art_living_on_a_lifeboat.html >.
Kant, Immanuel. Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals. Thomas Kingsmill Abbott (trans.). Web. 6 Dec 2012. < >.
Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism. 1863. Web. 6 Dec 2012. < >.
