Who said that "He (Malthus) went so far as to claim, the moral restraint on a wide scale was the best means indeed, the only means of easing the poverty of the lower classes"?

The correct answer is - Geoffrey Gilbert

Key Points

• Geoffrey Gilbert
  • He is a scholar who has analyzed and commented on the works of Malthus.
  • His interpretation emphasizes Malthus's idea of moral restraint as the primary solution to poverty among the lower classes.
  • This perspective is crucial in understanding the historical context of population and economic theories.
• Malthus's Theory
  • Thomas Malthus was an English scholar known for his theories on population growth and economic sustainability.
  • He posited that population growth would always outpace food production, leading to inevitable poverty and hardship unless checked by moral restraint.

Additional Information

• Thomas Malthus
  • Known for his work "An Essay on the Principle of Population" published in 1798.
  • Malthus argued that population growth would be checked by famine, disease, and war if moral restraint was not practiced.
• Moral Restraint
  • In Malthusian theory, moral restraint refers to the postponement of marriage and sexual abstinence until one can support a family.
  • It is considered the most ethical and effective way to control population growth and alleviate poverty.
• Impact on Economic Thought
  • Malthus's theories influenced later economists like David Ricardo and John Stuart Mill.
  • His ideas also sparked debates on public policy and social welfare during the 19th century.