Overpopulation Philos Identity Freedom Overpopulation Is a

Overpopulation Philos Identity Freedom Overpopulation is a consistent and pervasive problem in the world today. There is no doubt that if one looks at the available data and even a great deal of public opinion that overpopulation may be the greatest problem for humanity and the earth to date as the expansion of the human population has become exponential and is increasing in intensity in numbers never before seen. Since 1950, the global population has swelled almost threefold.

The current population of almost seven billion is forecast to rise to more than nine billion by 2050. This is increasing demands on the finite resources of our planet, reducing our ability to bring people out of poverty and causing climate-warming increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a decline in biodiversity and conflict for resources (John, 2011, p.

18) Yet, from a philosophical standpoint associated with identity and freedom there is no doubt that the problem with overpopulation is not being addressed on an individual level as each individual believes in his or her innate right to have children (chapter 10 in Chaffee).

There is a clear sense even from the experts that debates about the statistics are pervasive and definitions are lacking, leaving the scientific community to offer individuals limited concretes and many conjectures (Nicholas, May 2011), which are often easily shot down by civil laws' reluctance to intervene on an issue that is so enduringly associated with identity and freedom (John, 2011). As is stated by John in The Times UK; "It's an uncomfortable subject for politicians; the idea of influencing family size has unpleasant associations with state coercion," (2011).

This statement in and of itself demonstrates that the blank looks one might get at a dinner party if he or she broached the subject of overpopulation and how serious a problem it is directly to our lives today. It would seem then that individual choice seems to be paramount even to community and global well being when it comes to decisions of fertility and even decisions regarding the innate right to healthcare and improvement of longevity, resources and quality of life, the other key factors in population growth.

The challenges to overpopulation statistics in and of themselves demonstrate an out for individuals when they look at the seriousness of the overpopulation problem. Individuals make choices of fertility and health care based on their own personal desires and belief in the rights of the individual to make such paramount decisions.

There is also a good deal of evidence that individuals seek to assign "other" evolving solutions to the problem, with no real definitive answer that these "solutions" will be enough to save the world from catastrophic overpopulation and limited equity issues (Arsenault, October 2011). Some argue that as fertility rates globally are in general decline, we do not need to do anything. However, population projections are based on expectations of human behaviour and policies: they are not automatic. Others place their faith in technology.

Past predictions of famine caused by population explosion have been circumvented by increasing crop yields, but that does not mean we can assume they can be raised indefinitely. Neither complexity nor overconfidence should be an excuse for inaction. (John, 2011) Yet, with all this distinct expert opinion as well as shocking international trends for population growth and/or scarcity of resources the ultimate change will be in all people, not just some people taking a hard look at the issues of overpopulation and responding with responsible actions.

Individuals need to view their rights and freedoms as dependant of the need to be globally responsible. In so doing many would likely make better decisions about the need to use resources more efficiently and create better plans of equity for those living today, as it is unknowable how many people the earth can truly support and for how long and we are already painfully aware of the degradation we as a population are causing to our one.