Why should anyone contribute to a joint enterprise if their contribution is tiny and they can just as easily 'free ride' (i.e. get the benefit without making the sacrifice)? This is known as the 'Free Rider Problem'. Richard Tuck, Professor of Government at Harvard, has a distinctive take on this problem.
Listen to Richard Tuck on Free Riding
I wrote this small sniplet a while back, not knowing this is called the "free riding" problem. I actually I have a good answer for the paradox, but aren't all amature philosophers ....
http://bash-thoughts.blogspot.com/2005/04/democracy-diet-and-consciousness.html
Posted by: Bash | February 12, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Sorry, but this was a poorly argued event - which is rare for the guests of Philosophy bites. By moving to the issue of vagueness, your guest completely sidestepped the key benefit of free riding - that of allowing others to make progress in a most areas while an individual makes progress in a singular area ... Free riding is an underlying principal behind the efficient market theory of stock markets, as well the concept mentioned earlier of a just society being one in which an individual is able to express their talents and benefit from the expression of other's talents.
Very Nice.
Posted by: Tim | March 26, 2008 at 10:37 PM