Principle of Population by Thomas Malthus - Essay Example

Malthus claimed that under optimum conditions, the population can always double or grows rapidly.

Furthermore, Malthus claimed that various operations should be carried out in order to hold the population in check. He argued that the population cannot grow rapidly due to several forces that hinder growth such as war, famine and various diseases. Additionally, he pointed out that most people control birth rates, while others engage in marriage at old ages. Disease, war and famine raise the death rates leading to the decrease of the population while low birth rate and late marriages discourage population growth.

According to Malthus population does not require to run out of food supply due to late marriages and birth control. He further explains that if these practices were not practiced, the population would rapidly grow. Malthus claims that food is mainly necessary to support life thus encouraging population growth. He also explains that the earth cannot produce food on its in great quantities unless labor and skills are exercised upon the earth’s surface. Malthus explained that God is capable of rising up plants of all kinds for his creation’s use without the assistance of labor or man’s attention.  Land preparation activities such as ploughing, and clearing of the land, sowing of seeds and other practices done by man for production are mainly necessary for the enjoyment of life’s blessings. The practices arouse a man in action and ensure that he reasons appropriately. Furthermore, Malthus claimed that due to the excitement of the blessing of life, and the ability of man to provide food through the cultivation of the earth, rapid population growth is being witnessed than food increase.

According to the principle of population, man is considered slow, sluggish, inert and reluctant from labor. Generally, Malthus tries to enlighten people that the population cannot increase exponentially due to low rates of food supply. He, therefore, elaborates that checks on population growth in most societies are preventive and others are positive. The positive checks raise death rates while preventive checks decrease population increase by lowering birth rates. He further explains that there are certain periods when the population can increase exponentially. These periods are when new lands are opened for cultivation or when there are new cultivation methods invented.

Malthus believed that the systems of equality are prone to failure due to the powerful pressure of population increase and differences between the lower middle and upper classes that serve an important purpose of giving humans motivation for hard work. According to the essay, population pressure is one of the causes of conflicts and war. Today, due to developed ways of food production, there is an increase in population hence the increase in war and rivalry among people. Malthus explained that the consistent pressure of suffering of man due to population provides hopes for the future.