Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping The Poor

The world consists of different people, civilizations, and ways of life. There are many situations that call for different ways of handling them, like poverty, overpopulation, resources, and famine aid. Two very different points of view about these issues are espoused in two very different essays written decades apart, “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor” by Garrett Hardin and “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift. Hardin’s view of civilization and the world, although harsh, has facts that could help improve the issues. Even though Swift’s opinion has personal perspective, it isn’t very realistic.
OVERPOPULATION All over the world overpopulation is an issue. Poverty is thought to be a main influence. Although Swift does not state much on the issue of
overpopulation, he implies that the poor should be able to have as many children as they want with the consideration that they can provide for them. Hardin, on the other hand, compares overpopulation to cattle by stating “A farmer, for instance, will allow no more cattle in a pasture than its carrying capacity justifies. If he overloads it, erosion sets in, weeds take over, and he loses the use of the pasture.”(Hardin) Through this comparison, Hardin expresses how he feels about overpopulation and how it can cause harm for everybody. Hardin also points out the facts of reproduction in the poor countries and how they reproduce at a faster rate compared to the rich countries.
FAMINE AID Aiding the poor is a very lengthy subject that is focused on in both pieces. Swift’s view on aiding the poor shows that he has hope for everybody, including the poor, unlike Hardin. Swift indicates that the rich should have a moral obligation to help the poor, no matter the circumstances, his focus is on equality rather than individualism. His idea is that the poor can come out of their situation to eventually be able to fix the issue. Swift’s view is passionate and hopeful, is also very unrealistic. Hardin’s opinion of aiding the poor is very harsh, yet has realistic values and points. Hardin mentions an ancient Chinese proverb that states “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he will eat for the rest of his days.” After sharing this, he tells how there has been many programs made to help, but were wasted by the poor. Hardin’s main view on aiding the poor is summed up by not helping them because he believes that the won’t help themselves. Another point Hardin stated was “In sharing with “each according to his needs,” we must recognize that the needs are determined by population size, which is determined by the rate of reproduction, which at present is regarded as a sovereign right to every nation, poor or not.” This statement, unlike Swift’s implications, is a realistic fact.
RESOURCES Throughout civilization, obtaining the proper resources for survival is done differently.
Swift implies that the poor can be considered useful, that they can work, and could help with conserving these resources. He points that it is the rich who should have partial blame for the lack of resources for the poor, due to their unnecessary spending or the way they “waste” or “manage money”. Hardin views this issue differently. He feels that the poor are unskilled, uneducated, and are a drain to the resources of the rich. Hardin feels as if the poor contribute nothing to the rich. He indicates that there is a better use for resources other than being used by the poor, and that the resources need to be controlled by those of richer countries. “To be generous with one’s own possessions is quite different from being generous with those of posterity.” (Hardin)
Although Hardin and Swift have different views and perspectives, they both have very strong opinions about those topics. The world has different ways of doing things. Nothing will ever be one way or the other. The most important thing civilization can do is look at the most realistic opinion, and improve situations based on
that.