""An Essay on the Principle of Population"" is a seminal work of Thomas Malthus, first published in 1798. The book argues that population growth will eventually outstrip the earth's ability to produce enough food to sustain itself, leading to famine, disease, and other forms of suffering. Malthus posits that this population growth is inevitable, as it is driven by human nature and the desire for procreation. He argues that the only way to prevent this outcome is through moral restraint, such as abstinence and delayed ...
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""An Essay on the Principle of Population"" is a seminal work of Thomas Malthus, first published in 1798. The book argues that population growth will eventually outstrip the earth's ability to produce enough food to sustain itself, leading to famine, disease, and other forms of suffering. Malthus posits that this population growth is inevitable, as it is driven by human nature and the desire for procreation. He argues that the only way to prevent this outcome is through moral restraint, such as abstinence and delayed marriage. The book also explores the relationship between population growth and economic development, arguing that while economic growth can temporarily alleviate the effects of overpopulation, it ultimately leads to further population growth and exacerbates the problem. Malthus' ideas were controversial in his time and continue to be debated today, but his work remains a foundational text in the fields of demography, ecology, and economics.The principal objects which human punishments have in view are undoubtedly restraint and example; restraint, or removal, of an individual member whose vicious habits are likely to be prejudicial to the society'; and example, which by expressing the sense of the community with regard to a particular crime, and by associating more nearly and visibly crime and punishment, holds out a moral motive to dissuade others from the commission of it.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
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Although previously denigrated, this essay is prescient. Its warning is undoubtedly applicable today with mankind's burgeoning population and the reduction in natural resources.
