Module 1: Institutions & the Commons

GPH 210

Dominion Thesis

• Idea that Humans can use nature however they wish

• Idea that

Anthropocentrism

• Idea that humans are separate and above nature

• Nature only valued if it is useful or beneficial to us

• People first mentality

Conservation

• idea that we should use nature with sustainability

Ecocentrism

• idea that nature should be over humans, use of nature is deemed only right or wrong if it is sustainable to the environment

Ecology

Preservation

• idea to not interfere with nature at all

Stewardship

• idea that humans are superior and so have an obligation to take care of nature

Utilitarian

• Nature is only valued if it benefits people

• People had the freedom to use nature to benefit them

Common Property

• a resource that is hard to restrain

• usually owned by a group

Game Theory Institutions

• can be made using boundaries, proportionality (bigger impactors have more rules), collective choice, monitoring, sanctions for violators (should be graduated with low punishments for first-time offenders), conflict resolution (to resolve things on a small level), autonomy

Prisoners Dilemma

• idea that people act in for their own best interest but this isnt beneficial to everyone and the people around

Tragedy of the Commons

• how institutions can control human behavior and impact on the environment

• also an example of the prisoners dilemma

• field and pasture example) farmers benefit when they have more sheep so all farmers add more sheep to a common grazing field. but now theres no grass and no one to regulate the amount of sheep bc its a shared space

• the only way to combat this is coercion and enforcement regulations, and privitazation where only the owner would be hurt

Institutions

• these are recognized restrictions on behavior

• ex) social norms or formal laws

  • ex) waiting in line or waiting on the traffic lights

What is the biblical tradition?

• Can include stewardship and dominion thesis

Gifford Pinchot

• Was a utilitarian and conservationist

• believed that resources should be used but used responsibility

John Muir

• strict preservationist

• believed that nature should be left alone 100%

What was the debate over Hetch Hetchy Valley?

• pinchot and conservationists believed the river should be dammed so it can provide water to the people

• john muir and preservationists believed the river should be left alone so people can enjoy the natural stream, because it had intrinsic value

Aldo Leopold

• he included humans in the environment

• created moral extensionism

• use of the environment is not right or wrong, it is only right or wrong if it is sustainable

Moral extensionism

• expands ethics to plants, animals, land, humans, etc.

Examples of successful irrigation

• irrigation

• wildlife commons and rules around hunters

Problem with the tragedy of the commons

• assumes that the people are free and own property

• assumes that they are able to execute whatever, make decisions

• assumes they can make rules

Global Commons

• is it possible to scale up institutions on the global scale