Read Garrett Hardin’s 1968 article “Tragedy of the Commons” and the Commons Chapter. Respond to the following questions using up to 400 words total: 1) What is the tragedy of the commons? 2) Why does the herder in Hardin’s scenario believe it is in their interests to add another grazing animal to the common pasture? 3) Hardin talks about grazing, parks, parking, pollution, and human populations as tragedies of the commons. What are some other situations where the tragedy of the commons might apply? Describe why this fits the definition of a tragedy of the commons. 4) All of his rhetoric aside, Hardin’s fundamental solution to the tragedy of the commons is “mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon by the majority of the people affected.” Do you agree with this? Why or why not?
