Rev. Thomas Robert Malthus published his first Essay on the Principle of Population in 1798 in order to refute the views expressed by utopian writers and philosophers who believed that society could be reshaped in a new form which would lead to a better life for all. Malthus thought that this would never work simply because there would never be enough food to support an idealistic society. In his works Malthus set up laws about society based on past and present evidence and he tried to make future predictions of populations. Although his work has been very influential, it was his fate to frame an analysis of the relationship between population, economy and society during the last generation to which it was applicable. There have been many studies to show whether Malthus was correct for his time and some limitations of his writings have been pointed out. Some of the main limitations of his works are concerned with his views of non-modern Western and non-modern societies.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Malthus' Argument
- The Malthusian Checks
- The Role of Moral Restraint
- The Divine Plan
- The Influence of Malthus
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the ideas of Rev. Thomas Robert Malthus and his Essay on the Principle of Population. The essay was written as a response to utopian thinkers who believed in the perfectibility of society. Malthus argued that such a perfect society was impossible because the population would always outgrow the available food supply.
- The relationship between population growth and food supply
- The role of checks on population growth, both positive and preventative
- The impact of Malthus' ideas on the development of evolutionary theory
- The concept of moral restraint and its importance in avoiding misery
- The role of divine plan in explaining human suffering
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Malthus' Argument: This chapter outlines the core of Malthus' argument, which is based on two postulates: that food is necessary for human survival and that the passion between the sexes will remain constant. Malthus argues that population grows geometrically while food supply grows arithmetically, leading to an inevitable imbalance. This imbalance, according to Malthus, will result in suffering and misery.
- The Malthusian Checks: This chapter examines the various checks that Malthus identified as acting on population growth. These checks are divided into two categories: positive checks, which are active in nature, such as disease, war, and famine, and preventative checks, which are primarily economic in nature, such as postponement of marriage and the inability to afford children.
- The Role of Moral Restraint: This chapter explores Malthus' concept of moral restraint, which he believed was the only way to avoid the brutal forces of misery and vice. Moral restraint involves individuals making conscious choices about having children based on their ability to provide for them. According to Malthus, moral restraint was essential for the well-being of society.
- The Divine Plan: This chapter examines Malthus' theological perspective on human suffering. Malthus believed that suffering was not meaningless evil but a part of God's plan for humanity. He argued that suffering was necessary for spiritual and mental growth and that a world without pain would lead to laziness and stupidity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This text focuses on key concepts such as population growth, food supply, checks on population growth, positive and preventative checks, moral restraint, divine plan, human suffering, misery, and vice. The influence of Malthus' ideas on evolutionary theory is also discussed.
- Citation du texte
- BA (Oxon), Dip Psych (Open) Christine Langhoff (Auteur), 2002, Introduction to Thomas Robert Malthus, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/4698
