Malthus : The Life and Legacies of an Untimely Prophet

Thomas Robert Malthus's__An Essay on the Principle of Population__ was an immediate __succès de scandale__ when it appeared in 1798. Arguing that nature is niggardly and that societies, both human and animal, tend to overstep the limits of natural resources in "perpetual oscillation between happiness and misery," he found himself attacked on all sides--by Romantic poets, utopian thinkers, and the religious establishment. Though Malthus has never disappeared, he has been perpetually misunderstood. This book is at once a major reassessment of Malthus's ideas and an intellectual history of the origins of modern debates about demography, resources, and the environment. Against the ferment of Enlightenment ideals about the perfectibility of mankind and the grim realities of life in the eighteenth century, Robert Mayhew explains the genesis of the __Essay__ and Malthus's preoccupation with birth and death rates. He traces Malthus's collision course with the Lake poets, his important revisions to the __Essay,__ and composition of his other great work, __Principles of Political Economy.__ Mayhew suggests we see the author in his later writings as an environmental economist for his persistent concern with natural resources, land, and the conditions of their use. Mayhew then pursues Malthus's many afterlives in the Victorian world and beyond. Today, the Malthusian dilemma makes itself feltonce again, as demography and climate change come together on the same environmental agenda. By opening a new door onto Malthus's arguments and their transmission to the present day, Robert Mayhew gives historical depth to our current planetary concerns. Thomas Robert Malthus's An Essay On The Principle Of Population Was An Immediate Succès De Scandale When It Appeared In 1798. Arguing That Nature Is Niggardly And That Societies, Both Human And Animal, Tend To Overstep The Limits Of Natural Resources In Perpetual Oscillation Between Happiness And Misery, He Found Himself Attacked On All Sides -- By Romantic Poets, Utopian Thinkers, And The Religious Establishment. Though Malthus Has Never Disappeared, He Has Been Perpetually Misunderstood. This Book Is At Once A Major Reassessment Of Malthus's Ideas And An Intellectual History Of The Origins Of Modern Debates About Demography, Resources, And The Environment. Against The Ferment Of Enlightenment Ideals About The Perfectibility Of Mankind And The Grim Realities Of Life In The Eighteenth Century, Robert Mayhew Explains The Genesis Of The Essay And Malthus's Preoccupation With Birth And Death Rates. He Traces Malthus's Collision Course With The Lake Poets, His Important Revisions To The Essay, And Composition Of His Other Great Work, Principles Of Political Economy. Mayhew Suggests We See The Author In His Later Writings As An Environmental Economist For His Persistent Concern With Natural Resources, Land, And The Conditions Of Their Use. Mayhew Then Pursues Malthus's Many Afterlives In The Victorian World And Beyond. Today, The Malthusian Dilemma Makes Itself Felt Once Again, As Demography And Climate Change Come Together On The Same Environmental Agenda. By Opening A New Door Onto Malthus's Arguments And Their Transmission To The Present Day, Robert Mayhew Gives Historical Depth To Our Current Planetary Concerns. Prologue: Opening The Door On Malthus's Rollercoaster -- Before Malthus -- Prophets Of Perfection: A Revolutionary Triptych -- Malthus's Essay And The Quiet Revolution Of 1798 -- Malthus As The Malign Muse Of Romanticism -- Malthus And The Making Of Environmental Economics -- Malthus And The Victorians -- Malthus And The Dismal Age -- Malthus The Transatlantic Celebrity -- Malthus Today -- Epilogue: High Time For The Untimely Prophet. Robert J. Mayhew. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Prologue: opening the door on Malthus's rollercoaster Before Malthus: population, economy and environment in eighteenth century England Prophets of perfection: a revolutionary triptych The first inconvenient truth: Malthus's essay and the quiet revolution of 1798 "Diarrhoea of the intellect": Malthus as the malign muse of romanticism Malthus and the making of environmental economics Malthus and the Victorians: age of eclipse or éminence grise? Devils disclosed: Malthus and the dismal age Spaceships and slums, bets and bombs: Malthus the transatlantic celebrity Malthus today: new population bombs, climate change and collapse Epilogue: high time for the untimely prophet.

Though Robert Malthus has never disappeared, he has been perpetually misunderstood. Robert Mayhew offers at once a major reassessment of Malthus's ideas and an intellectual history of the origins of modern debates about demography, resources, and the environment, giving historical depth to our current planetary concerns.