Many problems are possible and occuring today due to overpopulation. One of the first to argue against drastic population increase and examine its dangers was Thomas Malthus.Malthus claimed in An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798) Malthus claimed that population growth was much more rapid than the growth of Earth's food supply. He correctly predicted that population would grow exponentially, but incorrectly thought that food would grow in a linear pattern, leading to widespread panic and famine.
Malthus viewed that the major solutions involved lowering the birth rates and increasing death rates. He viewed war, famine, and disease as favorable ways to increase death rates, and was against aid to the poor as a way to keep more people alive. He also fought for moral restraint and birth control across the world.
Malthus had many critics. Some argued that more population would lead to more technology-as and increase in the number of human brains is an increase in the number of inventors. Many thought that technology would remain ahead of population and allow food supplies to keep up with the rapid growth of population. Others argued for new methods of birth control and other new medical technology. Contraceptive Distribution modernized birth control and helped spread it to the LDCs that needed it. Still others thought that as long as economic development remained ahead of population, people would survive.
Malthus had many critics. Some argued that more population would lead to more technology-as and increase in the number of human brains is an increase in the number of inventors. Many thought that technology would remain ahead of population and allow food supplies to keep up with the rapid growth of population. Others argued for new methods of birth control and other new medical technology. Contraceptive Distribution modernized birth control and helped spread it to the LDCs that needed it. Still others thought that as long as economic development remained ahead of population, people would survive.
