Environmental regulations are intended to minimize human impact on nature. But we must transform nature into the values that sustain and enhance our lives. Minimizing our impact on nature means minimizing our pursuit of values, our quality of life, and individual flourishing. It means reducing our ability to live. Nature has value, but only in…
In Part 1, we examined the tragedy of the “commons.” In that post, the argument for government regulation was presented. In this post, we will examine how property rights can be applied to air and water. The following is an excerpt from my book, The Innovator Versus the Collective. Just as you cannot damage the…
In 1968, Garrett Hardin wrote a highly influential article titled “The Tragedy of the Commons,” in which he examined the problems that inherently arise when property is owned “in common.” Hardin tells the story of a pasture shared by a number of herdsmen: As a rational being, each herdsman seeks to maximize his gain. Explicitly…
In Part 1, we examined the “tragedy of the commons.” In Part 2, we examined how property rights can be applied to water. In Part 3, we will examine how property rights can be applied to air. The following is an excerpt from The Innovator Versus the Collective. In the case of air, nuisance laws provide…
In Part 1, we examined the “tragedy of the commons.” In Part 2, we will examine how property rights can be applied to water. The following is an excerpt from The Innovator Versus the Collective. In some ways, water presents more complexity than air. Not only does water exist in oceans, lakes, rivers, and other…
The following is an excerpt from The Innovator Versus the Collective. For decades, the government has sought to reduce pollution through regulations. Those regulations have included restrictions on the emissions and discharges from factories and automobiles, as well as the products that consumers can use. While the results have been mixed at best, the costs…