An Essay on the Principle of PopulationAround 1796, Mr. Malthus, an English gentleman, had finished reading a book that confidently predicted human life would continue to grow richer, more comfortable and more secure, and that nothing could stop the march of progress. He discussed this theme with his son, Thomas, and Thomas ardently disagreed with both his father and the book he had been reading, along with the entire idea of unending human progress. Mr. Malthus suggested that he write down his objections so that they could discuss them point-by-point. Not long after, Thomas returned with a rather long essay. His father was so impressed that he urged his son to have it published. And so, in 1798, appeared An Essay on Population, by British political economist and demographer THOMAS ROBERT MALTHUS (1766-1834). Though it was attacked at the time and ridiculed for many years afterward, it has remained one of the most influential works in the English language on the general checks and balances of the world's population and its necessary control. This is a replica of the 1826 sixth edition. Volume 2 includes: Book III: "Of the Different Systems, Which Have Been Proposed or Have Prevailed in Society, As They Affect the Evils Arising from The Principle of Population" and Book IV: "Of our future Prospects respecting the Removal or Mitigation of the Evils arising from the Principle of Population." |
Contents
Section 13 | 151 |
Section 14 | 167 |
Section 15 | 185 |
Section 16 | 190 |
Section 17 | 200 |
Section 18 | 210 |
Section 19 | 216 |
Section 20 | 223 |
Section 9 | 97 |
Section 10 | 100 |
Section 11 | 111 |
Section 12 | 137 |
Section 21 | 235 |
Section 22 | 245 |
Section 23 | 256 |
Other editions - View all
An Essay on the Principle of Population (Two Volumes in One) Thomas Robert Malthus Limited preview - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
Adam Smith advantage agriculture appear arising Bank of England benevolence bounty capital cause cheap soups circumstances classes of society commerce common condition consequence considerable corn-laws cultivation degree demand for labour diminished distress effect employed employment encourage England evidently evil exertions exportation foreign corn greater habits happiness human improvement increase of population indolence industry labouring classes land law of chastity laws of nature lower classes maintenance of labour manufactures marriage marry means of subsistence ment misery moral nation necessarily necessary object observed occasioned parish assistance particular passion peace of Amiens perhaps period poor poor-laws poverty present price of corn price of labour price of provisions principle of population probably profits progress proportion RATIONAL EXPECTATIONS raw produce reason Robert Gourlay scarcity septiers shillings sufficient supply supposed system of equality take place tend tion wages of labour wealth Wealth of Nations workhouses