Defend or critique Julian Simon’s argument that people are the “ultimate resource” and therefore the solution to resource scarcity is actually to increase population.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Simon neglected issues of social inequality. Although the lives of many have
improved, the percentage of the world’s population who live in poverty and face hunger,
hasn’t declined much. The sheer number living in poverty has doubled. His argument
that more people means more brainpower does to explain how innovativeness depends
on social circumstances that encourage creative thinking, not simply more people. His
optimism about technology is also questionable. Sometimes it is helpful, like reduce the
use of fossil fuel; at other times it creates unintended damages, like HCFCs.