Economists (and others) who are satisfied with nature-free equations develop a dangerous hubris about the potency of our species
Society does not need more children; but it does need more loved children. Quite literally, we cannot afford unloved children - but we pay heavily for them every day. There should not be the slightest communal concern when a woman elects to destroy the life of her thousandth-of-an-ounce embryo. But all society should rise up in alarm when it hears that a baby that is not wanted is about to be born.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of nurturing love for children rather than merely increasing their numbers.
In this quote, Garrett Hardin argues that society should focus on the quality of love and care given to children rather than increasing their numbers. He suggests that unloved children lead to significant societal costs and challenges, making it imperative for communities to prioritize the emotional and psychological well-being of children over mere procreation. Essentially, the quote highlights the need for a nurturing environment for every child, stressing that the impact of an unwanted child is a concern for society as a whole.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a community discussion on child welfare.
More from Garrett Hardin
All quotes →Moreover, the practical recommendations deduced from ecological principles threaten the vested interests of commerce; it is hardly surprising that the financial and political power created by these investments should be used sometimes to suppress environmental impact studies.
A technical solution may be defined as one that requires a change only in the techniques of the natural sciences, demanding little or nothing in the way of change in human values or ideas of morality.
Thou shalt not transgress the carrying capacity
A finite world can support only a finite population; therefore, population growth must eventually equal zero.
Indeed, our particular concept of private property, which deters us from exhausting the positive resources of the earth, favors pollution.
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