Thomas Malthus
British Economist & Demographer
Who is Thomas Malthus?
Thomas Malthus (1766–1834) was a British economist and demographer best known for his influential work on population dynamics. In 1798, he published "An Essay on the Principle of Population," where he argued that populations tends to grow exponentially while the resources to support that population grow linearly.
Malthus' ideas on population dynamics had a significant impact on Charles Darwin, the renowned naturalist and author of "On the Origin of Species" (1859).
Early Life
Thomas Robert Malthus was born on February 13, 1766, in Dorking, Surrey, England. Malthus was the sixth of seven children in a prosperous and well-educated family. His father, Daniel Malthus, was a personal friend of philosopher and skeptic David Hume. Thomas Malthus received his education at the Warrington Academy and later at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics, history, and political economy.
"An Essay on the Principle of Population"
Malthus' most famous work
In this essay, Malthus argued that population tends to grow exponentially, while the means of subsistence (such as food production) only increases arithmetically. This led him to the grim prediction that population growth would eventually outstrip the ability of the Earth to provide enough resources, resulting in widespread poverty, famine, and suffering. Malthus' ideas were influential and controversial, sparking debates on population, resources, and the role of government in addressing social issues.
Connection to Charles Darwin
Darwin, in the process of developing his theory of evolution through natural selection, drew inspiration from Malthus' concept of a struggle for existence. Malthusian principles provided Darwin with a framework to understand how competition for limited resources could drive the process of natural selection, favoring those individuals with advantageous traits for survival and reproduction.
Beyond The Basics
Malthus did more than study population dynamics.
Beyond his contributions to economics, Malthus was a multilingual scholar, skilled writer, and engaged in debates with contemporaries such as David Ricardo. His legacy endures, prompting ongoing reflections on issues of sustainability, resource allocation, and the challenges posed by population growth.
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