The Commons
The "commons" is any resource—including life support and social systems—used as though it belongs to all.
The air, drinking water, and in many parts of the world, land for farming and grazing, fish from the sea, and wood for fuel and housing are treated as commons.
The commons is susceptible to destruction by uncontrolled use, and its upkeep is the intrinsic responsibility of all, acting beyond narrow self-interest.
Source: In a 1968 article for Science entitled, The Tragedy of the Commons, Garrett Hardin applied the concept to the natural world and the prospect of environmental catastrophes, but its use dates back to Aristotle. More recently, the term has been used more broadly to embrace cultural practices and civic institutions.
Related words: Ecosystem, interdependency, stewardship, public interest
The air, drinking water, and in many parts of the world, land for farming and grazing, fish from the sea, and wood for fuel and housing are treated as commons.
The commons is susceptible to destruction by uncontrolled use, and its upkeep is the intrinsic responsibility of all, acting beyond narrow self-interest.
Source: In a 1968 article for Science entitled, The Tragedy of the Commons, Garrett Hardin applied the concept to the natural world and the prospect of environmental catastrophes, but its use dates back to Aristotle. More recently, the term has been used more broadly to embrace cultural practices and civic institutions.
Related words: Ecosystem, interdependency, stewardship, public interest
posted by Charlie Quimby at 7:07 PM
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