The tragedy of the digital commons

In the paper it is argued that bridging the digital divide may cause a new ethical and social dilemma. Using Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons, we show that an improper opening and enlargement of the digital environment (Infosphere) is likely to produce a Tragedy of the Digital Commons (TDC). In the course of the analysis, we explain why Adar and Huberman's previous use of Hardin's Tragedy to interpret certain recent phenomena in the Infosphere (especially peer-to-peer communication) may not be entirely satisfactory. We then seek to provide an improved version of the TDC that avoids the possible shortcomings of their model. Next, we analyse some problems encountered by the application of classical ethics in the resolution of the TDC. In the conclusion, we outline the kind of work that will be required to develop an ethical approach that may bridge the digital divide but avoid the TDC.     

靖道光时期汉族翰林与满洲翰林地位之比较

清中期以后，天下大致太平，战事明显减少，高官大吏多起自科举，而科举之中最重翰林。不仅汉族士人如此，满蒙汉军旗人士子亦如此。此外，清代一直推行“首崇满洲”的国策。在科举方面，虽然在一甲进士和状元及第等名义上照顾汉族士子，但真正受皇帝信赖倚重的大臣，仍然是本族士子。在翰林群体中，满洲翰林的地位和作用远远胜过汉族翰林。这一点在鸦片战争前后活跃于政坛的几位翰林身上便能清晰地反映出来。活跃于当时政坛的两派阵营中的领军人物皆出自翰林，但较量的结果可想而知。本文利用大量第一手资料，对清道光时期满汉翰林之分歧较量的过程予以深入剖析，验证了“满重汉轻”的历史事实。