"An Essay on the Principle of Population" by Thomas Robert Malthus

In this work Malthus argues that there is a disparity between the rate of growth of population (which increases geometrically) and the rate of growth of agriculture (which increases only arithmetically). He then explores how populations have historically been kept in check.



There are two versions of Thomas Robert Malthus’s Essay on the Principle of Population. The first, published anonymously in 1798, was so successful that Malthus soon elaborated on it under his real name. The rewrite, culminating in the sixth edition of 1826, was a scholarly expansion and generalization of the first.

TOC
Preface
Chapter I. Question Stated
Chapter II. The Different Ratios In Which Population and Food Increase
Chapter III. The Savage Or Hunter State Shortly Reviewed
Chapter IV. State of Civilized Nations
Chapter V. The Second, Or Positive Check to Population Examined
Chapter VI. New Colonies
Chapter VII. A Probable Cause of Epidemics
Chapter VIII. Mr. Wallace
Chapter IX. Mr. Condorcet’s Conjecture Concerning the Organic Perfectibility of Man
Chapter X. Mr. Godwin’s System of Equality
Chapter XI. Mr. Godwin’s Conjecture Concerning the Future Extinction of the Passions Between the Sexes
Chapter XII. Mr. Godwin’s Conjecture Concerning the Indefinite Prolongation of Human Life
Chapter XIII. Error of Mr. Godwin In Considering Man Too Much In the Light of a Being Merely Rational
Chapter XIV. Mr. Godwin’s Five Propositions Respecting Political Truth
Chapter XV. Models Too Perfect May Sometimes Rather Impede Than Promote Improvement
Chapter XVI. Probable Error of Dr. Adam Smith
Chapter XVII. Question of the Proper Definition of the Wealth of a State
Chapter XVIII. The Constant Pressure of Distress On Man
Chapter XIX. The Sorrows of Life Necessary to Soften and Humanize the Heart