The most well-known theory of population is the Malthusian theory. Thomas Robert Malthus wrote his essay on “Principle of Population” in and modified some of his conclusions in the next edition in The rapidly increasing population of England encouraged by a Estimated Reading Time: 8 mins · Reverand Thomas Malthus suggested a theory explaining how economic development is related to growing population while highlighting his concerns in an essay written in However, this theory could be deemed obsolete for developed countries while related to · Malthusian Population Trap (Malthusian Theory on Population Growth and Economic Development) Reverend Thomas Malthus published An Essay on the Principle of Population in which argued that population increases geometrically (i.e. 1, 2, 4, 8, ) doubling every 30 to 40 years while food supplies expand only arithmatically (becuase of diminishing returns to fixed factors such as
Malthusian theory of population Free Essay Sample
Thomas Robert Malthus was a Malthusian theory of population essay economist and a demographer, whose famous Theory of Population highlighted the potential dangers of overpopulation. His thinking took shape under the influence of the optimistic ideas of his father and his friends especially Rousseau, for future improvement of the society. In the first edition of his treatise, Malthus put forth his views that opposed the belief of scholars like Marquis de Condorcet and William Godwin who were optimistic about population growth in England.
During the Industrial Revolution, England experienced a steep increase in its population. According to him, an increased population would create more wealth that would provide food for the whole humanity. Scholars of such school of thought believed that, both man and society could be made perfect. In contrast to this viewpoint, Malthus interpreted overpopulation as an evil that would reduce the amount of food available per person. In simple words, if human population was allowed to increase in an uncontrolled way, then the number of people would increase at a faster rate than the food supply.
A point would come when human population would reach the limit up to which food sources could not support it. Any further increase would lead to population crash caused by natural phenomena like famine or disease. According to him, human society could never be perfected. He believed that man is a lazy animal, who would lead a satisfied life and procreate as long as his family was well fed.
However, as soon as human population would feel constraints in food supply due to increase in population, he would again work hard to provide enough for his family.
This might lead to an increase in agricultural production to provide for all, but at the same time man would be back to his complacent stage, where all his needs would be fulfilled. This would start the cycle of overpopulation and food shortage, all over malthusian theory of population essay. Having been a clergy, malthusian theory of population essay, Malthus validated his theory on moral grounds that suffering was a way of making human beings realize the virtues of hard work and moral behavior.
Such kind of suffering due to overpopulation and limited food supply was inevitable. Assumptions: Malthus took into account two main assumptions:. He proposed that human beings adopt measures like infanticide, abortion, delay in marriage and strict following of celibacy to check population growth.
He proposed that the boom in population will result into excess of labor force ready to work at the available wage rate, giving them the income to buy food for their family. This will lead to an increase in the overall demand for food outstripping its supply.
Hence, the prices malthusian theory of population essay rise and inflation will set in. This inflationary pressure will worsen the situation of the already distressed poor section of the society leaving the riches unaffected.
The poor will work more to improve their situation and will also consider reducing the population growth so that they have less mouths to feed, malthusian theory of population essay. However, this will only last till the population equals the food supply and the inflation ceases; after which, overall standard of living will rise and so will the population explosion reaching the same point, hence malthusian theory of population essay the vicious cycle.
It includes famines, hunger, epidemics, war and other natural miseries which cause large-scale deaths. Although it helps in controlling the population growth, it brings with it widespread misery and pain.
Hence, it is not regarded as an ideal solution to population problem. This method refers to human effort in reducing the birth rate. It is more practically and logically applicable. Abortion, prostitution, postponement of marriage, birth control and celibacy are few measures that were advised to be strictly followed in order to help solve the problem. In his second edition of the same essay, Malthus laid more emphasis on: Moral Restraint: This is regarded as a universally applicable solution keeping up with the ideologies of virtue, economic gain and social improvement.
According to this principle, one should refrain from marriage till the time he is capable. of supporting a family with food, clothing and shelter. Until then he should follow strict celibacy. Thus, malthusian theory of population essay, the Theory of Natural Selection was born. By the end of the 19th Century, when living standards improved and birth rates dropped in the Western countries, concerns of overpopulation became irrelevant.
Some critics like Karl Marx, argued that Malthus failed to recognize the potential of human population to increase food supply. Thinkers from the field of social sciences have criticized Malthus for his belief that the human society could never be made perfect.
He opposed all political, social and economic reforms that did not aim at controlling birth rate. His own methods of checking population growth were criticized for being impractical. Malthus was opposed to the Poor Laws popular in England, which provided relief to the people who qualified as poor under the laws. According to him, such charity would provide only short-term relief to them and let the poor remain in their state of financial distress. This thought of Malthus was viewed as misanthropic.
From his writings, some have interpreted Malthus as a rigid and pessimistic individual. However, he is also viewed malthusian theory of population essay some as a pragmatic thinker, who put a check on the unbridled enthusiasm of some who viewed increase in population as a means of progress.
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Thomas Malthus and population growth - Cosmology \u0026 Astronomy - Khan Academy
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· Reverand Thomas Malthus suggested a theory explaining how economic development is related to growing population while highlighting his concerns in an essay written in However, this theory could be deemed obsolete for developed countries while related to · Malthusian Population Trap (Malthusian Theory on Population Growth and Economic Development) Reverend Thomas Malthus published An Essay on the Principle of Population in which argued that population increases geometrically (i.e. 1, 2, 4, 8, ) doubling every 30 to 40 years while food supplies expand only arithmatically (becuase of diminishing returns to fixed factors such as The most well-known theory of population is the Malthusian theory. Thomas Robert Malthus wrote his essay on “Principle of Population” in and modified some of his conclusions in the next edition in The rapidly increasing population of England encouraged by a Estimated Reading Time: 8 mins
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