September 17, 2003

Renowned UCSB Bioethicist Garrett Hardin Dead at 88

Joan Magruder

Garrett James Hardin, renowned bioethicist and professor emeritus of human ecology at UC Santa Barbara, has died at his home in Santa Barbara on Sunday (September 14) at the age of 88.

Trained as an ecologist and microbiologist, Hardin is best known for his pioneering 1968 essay, "The Tragedy of the Commons," which is widely accepted today as a fundamental contribution to ecology, population theory, economics, and political science.

Hardin was a member of the UCSB faculty for more than 30 years, and remained actively involved in writing and research following his retirement in 1978.

His most recent books include "The Immigration Dilemma: Avoiding the Tragedy of the Commons" (1995), "Stalking the Wild Taboo" (1996), and "The Ostrich Factor: Our Population Myopia" (1999).

Hardin received many honors during his lifetime, including the 1997 Constantine Panunzio Distinguished Emeriti Award, which each year honors one retired faculty member of the nine-campus University of California system for continued scholarly productivity.

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