Society and Population
Powerful knowledge persists with time and is applicable over generations. Chapter (IV) of “The World Philosophers” by Robert Heilbronn offers a recollection of Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo’s view of society and population. Ricardo foresaw an end to an economy where everyone moved harmoniously in the ladder of social progress. He envisioned a society divided into social classes as a result of their economic roles. Besides, Malthus observed that humans are condemned to forever struggle to provide for the ever-growing population with limited resources in the world. These propositions annihilate prospects of achieving William Goldwin utopia of everlasting peace and plenty
Malthus’s proposals align with the current trends in population outlook, confirming his presumed projections. In less developed countries, there is a significant gap in income disparity. In his Principles of Political Economy, Malthus observes that land is purchased from fruits of labor and industrialists. Population pressures remain relevant socio-economic and political factors. Malthus opined there were too many people in the world and that the quality of food regulates the human population. The theory demonstrates that the broader proposition of the human population would be subjected to misery, poverty, and suffering. Heilbroner indicates that some countries developed solutions to promote birth control, in what Malthus terms as “self-restraint” like the Chinese One-child policy (92). In developing countries where food is scarce, rates of population growth are higher than in western developed countries. This conflicts with Malthus’s opinions that the population thrives where food is plenty. Besides, West benefits from ease of access to birth controls and urbanization, which resulted in lower growths. Malthus theory applies in parts of the world where wealth and progress lag behind.
Ricardo observed a bitter conflict between business interests. Opposition emerged against the importation of grain due to rising demand and shortage in England. As a result, landlords influenced the passage of the Corn Laws, which imposed duties to keep the price of wheat low in the UK. Then, capitalists and Industrialists opposed high grain prices because they resulted in demand for high wages. The interest of landlords and capitalists conflicted, yet landlords have an inimical interest to the community. In his Principles of Political Economy (1817) portrays the nature of the modern working class. Ricardo opined that “the desire for the commodity was infinite and the stability to purchase them guaranteed” in the labor-wage system (Heilbroner 100). Therefore, capitalists invest in promoting growth and social prosperity. The level of wage determines the number of profits earned by an organization. Ricardo encouraged free trade and market competition, and vehemently fought against the Corn Laws since the landlords remained the only beneficiaries. The most economical system adopted those principles in trade regulation, international trade policies, and the protection of local industry from foreign influence.
In conclusion, the work of David Ricardo elucidated numerous aspects of modern economic models and systems. His evaluation of the social and economic setting in reference to wheat address matters of taxations, trade restrictions, and economic policies. Ricardo managed to explain how financial interest affects wages and the composition of social hierarchy. On the other side, Malthus left a remarkable mark on population, concluding that the human urge for reproduction would shove prospects of humanity to remain at the brim of subsistence. The knowledge portrayed by Ricardo and Malthus remains relevant in modern society because societies in the world continue to face inequalities, and the growing gap between the rich and the poor.