Potential Problems of Overpopulation

a philosophical thesis by Matthew Bissonnette

At this point in history there are currently 6 billion denizens on planet Earth, and that number is increasing. As with any form of life, this is only possible because advances in agriculture could fee so many; though tragic occurrences such as famine still are common. As the population grows, so does the economy since it must employ more people and thus it's demands in resources to maintain growth becomes more all consuming. The problem arises that as demand for resources grow, the actual supply of some of those resources dwindles since it is finite. A problematic scenario arises, what would happen if humanities population where to greatly exceed the Earth's ability to maintain it; I believe such a scenario would only result in the most barbaric forms of inhumanity for control of what remained. Also it could lead to a resurgence of eugenics; a science which believed that genetically inferior people where reproducing faster then more intelligent people which became popular in the early twentieth century. It resulted in such unethical practices as forced sterilization and was even popular many western countries; though once such beliefs where discovered to be the ideological justification for the horrors of Nazi Germany it was quickly forgotten. A solution perhaps could be for nations to create public service announcements encouraging people to have less children, as well as tax and financial incentives for procreating less. It would be a matter of choice, but a understanding should be created that their own youths future will be shaped by actions taken today. That a benevolent goal would be to begin to reduce the population through the use of people's choice and not allow it to grow again.