New Books in Economics Garrett Hardin’s Tragic Environmentalism
Oct 27, 2025
Peter Staudenmayer, a historian from Marquette University, delves into Garrett Hardin's significant yet controversial impact on environmentalism. The discussion highlights Hardin's Malthusian views, linking population control with eco-conservative ideologies. They explore his infamous 'Tragedy of the Commons' and its resonance amidst the 1960s population panic. The conversation also addresses Hardin's anti-immigrant stances and the influence of his ideas on modern far-right environmental rhetoric, ultimately questioning whether humanity is destined for conflict or collaboration.
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Farm Childhood Shaped Hardin's Views
- Garrett Hardin recalled managing 500 chickens and killing one daily for lunch during his youth on a farm.
- He described being haunted by the need to cull excess animals, a memory that shaped his view of human population control.
Hardin's Early Abortion Advocacy
- Hardin became an early and vocal public advocate for abortion reform and helped women access services before Roe v. Wade.
- He used his scientific authority to destigmatize abortion and coined the slogan 'abortion on demand.'
Population Control Drove His Reproductive Politics
- Hardin framed abortion as a tool of population control rather than women's liberation, aiming to reduce births among the poor and people of color.
- His private letters reveal explicit classist and eugenic motives behind his public reproductive rights work.
