Malthusian etymology

Etymology

The term "Malthusian" derives from the name of the English economist, demographer, and philosopher Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834).

Meaning

"Malthusian" refers to doctrines or ideas associated with Malthus's theories on population.

Origin

Malthus developed his ideas on population in his book "An Essay on the Principle of Population" (1798). In this work, he argued that:

• Population growth: Population tends to grow exponentially, doubling roughly every 25 years.
• Food supply: Food production grows arithmetically, meaning it increases at a constant rate.
• Population checks: Population growth is eventually limited by "checks" such as disease, famine, and war.

Malthus believed that the gap between population growth and food supply would lead to widespread misery and starvation. He advocated for measures to control population growth, such as late marriage and abstinence.

Key Principles of Malthusianism

• Exponential population growth
• Limited food supply
• Population checks as a natural consequence of overpopulation
• Importance of population control to avoid widespread poverty and starvation

Malthusian relate terms

• pledge

  Etymology The word pledge comes from the Old English word plegg meaning a pledge

• consume

  Etymology Latin consumere to destroy use up exhaust Old French consumer consum

• attitude

  Etymology Medieval Latin aptitudo natural fitness suitability Latin aptus fit

• just

  Etymology Origin Old French conscience from Latin conscientia from com with sci

• account

  Etymology The word account comes from the Old French word acount which in turn deriv

• symptom

  Etymology Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα sýmptōma meaning incident concomitant

• category

  Etymology The word category derives from the Ancient Greek word kategoria meaning

• disappoint

  Etymology Middle English disapoynten from Old French despointer desappointer Old Fr

• enemy

  Etymology The word enemy comes from the Old French word ennemi which in turn is der