Garrett Hardin

Garrett Hardin (1915–2003) was an American ecologist and writer best known for his 1968 essay “The Tragedy of the Commons,” which argued that shared, finite resources can be depleted when individuals act in their own self-interest. He taught human ecology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and wrote widely on population, environmental limits, and public policy. Hardin’s work helped popularize debates about overpopulation and resource management and remains influential in environmental studies and economics. He published numerous essays and books aimed at a general audience, combining scientific ideas with social and ethical questions.