Thomas Robert Malthus Criticism
Thomas Robert Malthus, an eminent English political economist and essayist, was one of the most controversial thinkers of the early 19th century, primarily known for his seminal work, An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798). In this essay, Malthus argued that population growth tends to outpace the means of subsistence, leading to inevitable poverty unless checked by "Preventive" measures like moral restraint or "Positive" checks such as famine and disease. His theories sparked significant debate over the causes and solutions to poverty, influencing figures like Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace in their development of natural selection.
Born in 1766 to a well-off family in Surrey, England, Malthus received a robust education and later took Holy Orders. His landmark essay, published in 1798, critiqued the Enlightenment's utopian ideals and aimed to impact public policy, especially concerning the Old Poor Law. Malthus traveled extensively, gathering data that informed subsequent revisions of his essay. His later works, including An Inquiry into the Nature and Progress of Rent and Principles of Political Economy, further established his position on economic issues, including the law of diminishing returns and the effects of foreign grain imports.
Malthus's ideas were met with intense criticism in his era, particularly from Romantic liberals who viewed his theories as unsympathetic to the poor. Modern criticism remains divided. As noted in The Early American Reaction to the Theory of Malthus, much criticism was based on misunderstandings of his theories. On the other hand, critics like Eric B. Ross argue that Malthus’s work justified economic inequalities and discouraged reforms. Tim Fulford interprets Malthus's theories as extending Burke's views, attributing poverty to the failings of the poor rather than societal structures.
The enduring impact of Malthus's theories continues to provoke debate over the relationship between population growth and economic policy, showcasing his lasting influence on both literature and the social sciences.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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The Early American Reaction to the Theory of Malthus
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In the following essay, originally published in October, 1931, Cady examines pre-1840 American criticism of Malthus's theories, contending that much of it is based on misreadings.
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Byron on Malthus and the Population Problem
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In the following essay, Beaty investigates the references to Malthus in Lord Byron's correspondence and poetry.
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Malthus and the Theology of Scarcity
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In the following essay, LeMahieu discusses Malthus's attempt, in the last two chapters of his Essay on Population, to provide theological justification for his theories.
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Economic Growth and the Poor in Malthus' Essay on Population
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In the following essay, Gilbert explains Malthus's changing views on the effects of economic growth on the working poor in the 1798 and succeeding editions of the Essay on Population.
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Logic and Rhetoric in Malthus's Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798
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In the following essay, Walzer analyzes Malthus's Essay in terms of its rhetorical strategies.
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Utilitarianism in a Theological Context
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In the following excerpt, Hollander explores Malthus's version of theological utilitarianism, claiming that his roles as Christian moralist and political economist were not incompatible.
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Politics and Paradigms: The Origins of Malthusian Theory
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In the following essay, Ross discusses the historical, political, and economic factors behind Malthus's theory of population which, Ross claims, provide justification for the system of private property as it existed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
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Apocalyptic Economics and Prophetic Politics: Radical and Romantic Responses to Malthus and Burke
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In the following essay, Fulford explains the influence Malthus's writings exerted on the history of literature as well as on the history of politics and social science.
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The Early American Reaction to the Theory of Malthus
(summary)
- Further Reading