Final answer:
The essay 'The Tragedy of the Commons' outlines how environmental issues arise due to the overexploitation of shared resources. Garrett Hardin's concept shows the tension between individual interests and collective goods, spanning various contexts such as climate change. Elinor Ostrom's opposing view suggests that communal cooperation can lead to sustainable resource management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The essay entitled "The Tragedy of the Commons" was written to illustrate the environmental conflicts that occur when many people in a community take advantage of the same resources in that area. Garrett Hardin's piece highlights the economic principle that such commonly held resources will inevitably be overexploited, as individuals often act according to their own self-interest without considering the longer-term consequences of resource depletion. In the essay, Hardin extends the principle to various modern 'commons' such as overgrazing, overfishing, air pollution, and global climate change, demonstrating how collective goods are impacted by the self-serving behavior of individuals or states.
Elinor Ostrom proposed a more hopeful scenario, the "non-tragedy of the commons," suggesting that close-knit communities can manage shared resources sustainably through cooperation and communication. Ostrom's work indicates that community-based management and the proximity of those who benefit most from a resource can lead to better outcomes without the need for external regulation. Overall, the tragedy of the commons illustrates the challenges in managing our shared environment and resources, and emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility in solving these complex issues.