Rethinking the Lifeboat Theory through a Global South Lens

This paper undertakes a systematic critique of Garrett Hardin’s 1974 theory of “Lifeboat Ethics” from the standpoint of the Global South. It argues that Hardin’s framework contains logical flaws in its assumptions of limited resources, demographic determinism, and the principle of moral exclusivity, while in practice it provides ethical justification for developed countries to restrict immigration, reduce aid, and evade climate responsibilities. In response, the paper draws on Kant’s idea of “cosmopolitanism” and Marx’s critique of capitalist alienation to propose that the Global South should construct an ethical paradigm of “symbiotic justice.” Such an ethic should be rooted in the civilizational traditions of developing countries while retaining universal applicability. It aims to transcend the binary opposition between North and South, pursue fairness on the basis of mutual recognition and coexistence, promote common prosperity, and contribute to the reconstruction of global governance ethics with development justice at its core.