# An Essay on the Principle of Population

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The book An Essay on the Principle of Population was first published anonymously in 1798 through J. Johnson (London). The author was soon identified as The Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus. While it was not the first book on population, it has been acknowledged as the most influential work of its era. Its 6th Edition was independently cited as a key influence by both Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in developing the theory of natural selection.
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AN
ESSAY
ON THE
PRINCIPLE OF POPULATION,
AS IT AFFECTS
THE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY.
WITH REMARKS
ON THE SPECULATIONS OF MR. GODWIN,
M. CONDORCET,
AND OTHER WRITERS.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, IN ST. PAUL'S
CHURCHYARD.
1798.
PREFACE.
The following Essay owes its origin to a conversation with a friend, on the subject of Mr. Godwin's Essay, on avarice and profusion, in his Enquirer. The discussion, started the general question of the future improvement of society; and the Author at first sat down with an intention of merely stating his thoughts to his friend, upon paper, in a clearer manner than he thought he could do, in conversation. But as the subject opened upon him, some ideas occurred, which he did not recollect to have met with before; and as he conceived, that every, the least light, on a topic so generally interesting, might be received with candour, he determined to put his thoughts in a form for publication.
​The essay might, undoubtedly, have been rendered much more complete by a collection of a greater number of facts in elucidation of the general argument. But a long and almost total interruption, from very particular business, joined to a desire (perhaps imprudent) of not delaying the publication much beyond the time that he originally proposed, prevented the Author from giving to the subject an undivided attention. He presumes, however, that the facts which he has adduced, will be found, to form no inconsiderable evidence for the truth of his opinion respecting the future improvement of mankind. As the Author contemplates this opinion at present, little more appears to him to be necessary than a plain statement, in addition to the most cursory view of society, to establish it.
​It is an obvious truth, which has been taken notice of by many writers, that population must always be kept down to the level of the means of subsistence; but no writer that the Author recollects, has inquired particularly into the means by which this level is effected: and it is a view of these means, which forms, to his mind, the strongest obstacle in the way to any very great future improvement of society. He hopes it will appear, that, in the discussion of this interesting subject, he is actuated solely by a love of truth; and not by any prejudices against any particular set of men, or of opinions. He professes to have read some of the speculations on the future improvement of society, in a temper very different from a wish to find them visionary; but he has not acquired that command over his understanding which would enable him to believe what ​he wishes, without evidence, or to refuse his assent to what might be unpleasing, when accompanied with evidence.
The view which he has given of human life has a melancholy hue; but he feels conscious, that he has drawn these dark tints, from a conviction that they are really in the picture; and not from a jaundiced eye, or an inherent spleen of disposition. The theory of mind which he has sketched in the two last chapters, accounts to his own understanding, in a satisfactory manner, for the existence of most of the evils of life; but whether it will have the same effect upon others must be left to the judgement of his readers.
If he should succeed in drawing the attention of more able men, to what he conceives to be the principal difficulty in ​the way to the improvement of society, and should, in consequence, see this difficulty removed, even in theory, he will gladly retract his present opinions, and rejoice in a conviction of his error.
June 7, 1798.
CONTENTS
CHAP. I.
page. 1.
CHAP. II.
p. 18.
CHAP. III.
p. 39.
CHAP. IV.
p. 53.
CHAP. V.
p. 71.
CHAP. VI.
p. 101.
CHAP. VII.
p. 113.
CHAP. VIII.
p. 142.
CHAP. IX.
p. 155.
CHAP. X.
p. 173.
CHAP. XI.
p. 210.
CHAP. XII.
p. 219.
CHAP. XIII.
p. 250.
CHAP. XIV.
p. 264.
CHAP. XV.
p. 279.
CHAP. XVI.
p. 303.
CHAP. XVII.
p. 327.
CHAP. XVIII.
p. 348.
CHAP. XIX.
p. 372.
ERRATA. :
| Page. | Line. | |
| 41 | 13 | For half the, read half of the |
| 156 | 18 | For naural, read natural |
| 249 | 19 | For If, read if |
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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