While millions face hunger, malnutrition, and starvation,
the world’s population is increasing by over 225,000
people per day, 80 million per year. In many countries, supplies
of food and water are inadequate to support the population,
so the world falls deeper and deeper into what economists
call the “Malthusian trap,” named for the writer
whose work, more than any other, brought attention to the
population dilemma. Philip Appleman’s comprehensive
introduction to Thomas Robert Malthus’ seminal 1798
work traces the evolution of Malthus’ idea and its validity
through following generations.
The text is accompanied by explanatory annotations and excerpts
from the revised edition (1803). Key eighteenth-century influences
on Malthus are reprinted, including one by Benjamin Franklin.
Nine major assessments from the nineteenth century are reprinted,
including—new to the Second Edition—those of Frances
Pace and Harriet Martineau.
Contemporary commentary ranges widely through many schools
of thought, from Lester R. Brown, Paul and Anne Ehrlich, and
Garrett Hardin to Julian Simon and Pope Paul VI. All but one
of the twenty-four selections are new to the Second Edition.
A Selected Readings list and Index are included.
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