1. What are the three main parts of Hardin's essay "Lifeboat Ethics"?
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He explains the lifeboat metaphor
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He introduces his 'tragedy of the commons' theory
2. What is the main point Hardin makes in each of these three sections of his essay?
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The main point of this section is how the lifeboat is the rich nation and how the water
around it is the poor nation.
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The main point in this section is how people take advantage of resources that are freely
available to them.
3. What is the central idea or claim of Hardin's essay? Write just one paragraph as if you were
explaining to a classmate what this essay is essentially about.
The central idea of Hardin’s essay “Lifeboat Ethics” is about the challenges of feeding and
supporting the Earth’s growth population.
5. Identify one or two arguments, pieces of evidence, or sections within Hardin's essay that you
strongly disagree with, or that you felt demonstrate weak arguments or faulty reasoning.
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Hardin’s main argument is that we can’t afford to help the poor.
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It will only lead to more people poor and will eventually cost the lives of many more.
6. Choose one of the points of disagreement you have with Hardin as a starting point for your
own counterargument. Write the first draft of the claim you'd like to make in your
counterargument against Hardin's essay. (Don't worry, you'll test this soon with evidence, so it
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- Poverty, Tragedy of the Commons, Hardin, Lifeboat ethics, Garrett Hardin
