The Tragedy of Oil and Garret Hardin

When looking at the current crisis in the over consumption of oil, Garret Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons provides a framework in relating the problem as the depletion of an essential natural resource. If we take the resource of Oil in the context of Hardin's meaning of "common" use, then the principles of the tragedy apply the same. "Tragedy" for Hardin is an inevitable state of the human condition caused by the negative effects of endeavors towards progress. These endeavors are passed on and reinforced in every generation.

Tragedy of the Commons

Hardin's theory supposes that every individual, in claiming freedom, strives to capitalize or gain their greatest potential worth, but in the process disregards the possibility of exhausting resources. His argument opens as a critique of Adam Smith's "invisible hand" theory, which compels one to act in self-interest only, and the economic system will provide for the public as a whole. The concern of Hardin is that in this selfish state, individuals will neglect the natural resources and spaces that provide us the bare essentials of life. The earth does not provide limitless resources, especially in the case of Oil, but yet environmental concerns are disregarded and self-interest rules.

The impact of Oil on the individual

The consumption of petroleum oil is not just the tank of gas filling the billions of vehicles being driven every day. It is a resource that fuels the energy industry, trade, manufacturing and production of everything from foods to plastics. With so many people dependent on the use of oil for a flourishing economy the resource is being depleted at an alarming rate. According to President Bush's energy advisor Matthew Simmons it is not a renewable resource. The term "Peak Oil" has been used for years understating the un-renewable depletion of fossil fuels. Several organizations, government research, and concerned individuals have raised proof in the numbers that oil will not make it through the next century. At the risk of opening a can of worms, it can be said that the looming scarcity of oil fuels the hotbed of political upheaval in Latin America and the Middle East.

Tragedy of the Commons as the Depletion of Oil

Though privately owned companies' drill for oil and distribute it, Hardin's advice for allocated use of resources is viable with the dependence so great. It is a resource that every individual has a right to use to maximize personal gain and material pleasure, but the market has become too volatile to sustain.

The want and need of material things is a requirement for economic survival in today's world. Unless a drastic shift in basic living utilities, such as transportation via cars and planes, the common use of oil is in inevitable demise as a natural resource. As Hardin states, "a rational being…seeks to maximize his gain," and the global economy thrives on this concept of many individuals pursuing this gain. Since we are free to pursue this gain through material happiness it is dependent on a mass consumption of oil by the individual regardless of contributing to its depletion.

This coincides with Hardin's view that "the individual benefits as an individual from his ability to deny the truth even though society as a whole…suffers." Another denied truth is that Oil dependency also falls into Hardin's view of pollution as a tragedy of the commons. Manufacturing and energy plants using oil, the exhaust fumes from traffic, and excessive production of non-recyclable goods all contribute to putting pollution back into the commons of our shared space.

This side effect on the environment is a double-edged sword carving a new definition of the Tragedy of the Commons. To paraphrase; the more we need oil, the more it pollutes. Hardin would view the further privatization of oil use as a positive step, yet he still states "that private property, which deters us from exhausting the positive resources of the earth, favors pollution." Hence there is a no win solution with oil, as even if it is entirely preserved by private ownership the polluting effects eventually catch up with us. Its clear that altering the way Oil is distributed, owned or used does nothing, it's about clear alternatives free of un-renewable dependency.

Hardin's Solutions in Today's World

Written more then 30 years ago, Hardin's views are relevant even more so now. The world's population grows larger and life expectancy is longer. With more of us acting selfishly for longer periods of time, we will suck the natural resources of the Earth dry. Within many people striving for stability and a better quality of life, the concepts of quality and what stability consists of will have to find determent from only material gain as happiness. Perhaps the realization that happiness can come in efforts towards sustainability, in knowing that future generations will benefit from our actions today, not be harmed by them.

Hardin once suggested the allocation of rights of access to National Parks and it is applied today for some natural resources. Rights given on the "basis of wealth… auction system… merit…lottery", become an unwanted alternative, but necessary in the distribution of resources. We can counter these unwanted outcomes by what Hardin called trust in "education… to counteract the natural tendency to do wrong." Through educated awareness, environmental concern has ingrained concepts such as recycling in most young adults. As Hardin would agree, this must be refreshed and enhanced in every generation to prevent the complete ruin of the resources we depend on.

Works Cited:
Garrett Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons-
Today's Moral Issues, Edited by Daniel Bonevac (McGraw Hill, 2002)
(Hardin; pages, 111, 112, 113, and 112)