Principles of Population (Illustrated Edition)

Author: (English) Thomas Malthus, translated by Ding Wei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-02-01
Features: The first edition of An Essay on the Principle of Population, published in early 1788, immediately sparked a storm of controversy in society with its sharp and radical views. Malthus argued that there was an inevitable contradiction between a population growing in geometric progression and resources growing in arithmetic progression. If humanity could not rationally impose limits on population, it would inevitably fall into a cycle of happiness and disaster. After experiencing the economic depression of the 1930s and the population explosion of the 1970s, the theory that restricting population growth was the foundation for establishing social harmony was once regarded as an unshakable axiom by countries around the world. However, with the rapid rise of China and India as two superpopulation powers in the 21st century, the immense population and equally immense market have achieved a new model of economic takeoff, undoubtedly delivering a blow to Malthus's population theory. The famous diagnosis that population growth would be an insurmountable obstacle to wealth growth has been challenged. Will it still become the bottleneck encountered by the developing emerging powers, as predicted by Malthus? The world will wait and see. An Essay on the Principle of Population was published in six editions before 1826, and this exquisite color-illustrated classic edition is meticulously compiled based on the most representative second edition. Through 400 carefully selected historical illustrations that supplement and interpret the book's themes, readers will not only savor the rational textual narration but also delve into the fascinating academic world of the master through these frozen moments in history.