Michael Perelman :
With no evidence whatsoever, except for an obscure nineteenth century pamphlet, Hardin insisted that the absence of property rights in the English common lands inevitably led to an environmental disaster. Based on his limited understanding of traditional English land use patterns, Hardin declared that without private property, each individual would selfishly attempt to graze as many animals as possible on a finite area of land, putting excessive stress on the environment. ^^^^^ CB: In addition to the other criticisms Michael makes, it seems that only _with_ private property and a market in the cattle would each individual act selfishly and over graze.
It's the institution of private property , not "nature" , that begets tragic selfishness.
^^^^
Hardin's story has been so widely circulated that it has become commonly believed. Even serious environmental books frequently reprinted the article.
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