Customer Reviews

Ending the Explosion: Population Policies and Ethics for a Humane Future

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      The author acknowledges the depths of the social and environmental problems caused by overpopulation, as well as the need to do something quickly. However, there are some noticeable topics not covered, or not covered well - primarily the concepts of carrying capacity and optimum population on both regional and global scales. Immigration is also not mentioned.

      Other nonpopulation-related topics such as pollution and resource scarcity are skimmed over but that seems fair considering the emphasis placed on population. Biodiversity is given emphasis as worth preserving but the direct impacts of humans on all these issues is left for other books to discuss in detail.

      The author peppers the book, as he did the subtitle, with words that would place limitations on solving overpopulation. These words and phrases, while certainly politically correct, sometimes seem out of place with the high degree of threat attributed to overpopulation. Such words include ethical, noncoercive, humane, freedom respecting, human dignity, should be content, and more modest goals.

      Time is mentioned as being critical in regard to the trends of population growth and worsening environmental and social conditions. But the author does not take his largely incentive driven and noncoercive plans that next logical step by discussing the more drastic actions necessary should conditions worsen further as populaton doubles yet again. It will be up to another author to discuss such less humane, but possibly all-too-soon necessary, plans including more restrictive laws such as China's one-child policy, firm control of national borders, a selective increase in mortality, or even the "lifeboat ethics" put forth by Garrett Hardin.

      Current environmental problems receiving slight metion are overconsumption and the much higher per capita impact of those living in the rich nations. Most of the incentives in the book are aimed at what the author calls the "population-exploding" nations. Other than providing financial aid to the poorer countries, the rich countries and their population problems are hardly discussed.

      Very little is said of disincentives though the various methods of incentives are thoroughly discussed. To his credit the incentives and other population-growth slowing ideas presented seem to be workable and politically acceptable if a government was to decide to take action to control its growing population. However, the tone of the book seems pessimistic that the countries most needing to control their population will do so. Only a hope is given that the rich countries will help the poor countries financially.

      The author is to be commended for tackling the issue of solving overpopulation. Nothing is more controversial or more needed.