Introduction

Why 'Population Parsons'? Well, for two reasons:

(1) The first reason -- stemming from the 'dedication' mentioned on the contents page, is that I have long been convinced that -- short of  the possibility of lethal asteroid-strikes, vast climatic shifts, and mass-warfare with our most terrible weapons, biological, chemical, and/or atomic -- the population problem is humankind's biggest, most persistent, and at the same time, most tabooed challenge. 

I have devoted the second half of my long life to the study of  both the causes and the wide and diverse consequences of the totally unprecedented population explosion, together with its manifold ramifications; the economic, political, social, cultural, and ethical issues raised by the facts themselves and  the various possible ways of ameliorating the many huge problems it creates.

In essence, my conclusion is that Malthus and his ancient forebears were broadly correct in their analysis. Human population numbers must be controlled -- are being controlled already, up to a point ( and certainly not optimally) -- and must, by one means or another, continue for ever  to be controlled . This being the case, it befits an allegedly rational and moral species, like ours, to confront this central fact and all its implications squarely, and to take appropriate action in good time to solve this great, inescapable, and never-ending task.

If they are to survive in good heart, all groups must find ways of  balancing their numbers and their resources against each other in order to attain, and then to sustain indefinitely, a reasonable quality of life, first for themselves, and then -- a task we surely must work for and sustain ourselves with realistic hope -- to learn from wherever and whoever we can -- including from the wisdom of the founding forefathers and mothers of human society -- and pass on to others the techniques as quickly and as widely as possible, in the end to embrace the whole of humanity.

(2) The second reason for my chosen label is that Malthus was affectionately called 'Old Pop' by his children*, and simply 'Pop' by his students at the East India College, where he was Professor of General History, Politics, Commerce & Finance from 1805 until his death in 1834.

Malthus has been hated and despised by a vocal and destructive minority -- including Karl Marx -- ever since the first publication of his famous Essay on Population ... in 1798. The epoch-making evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin -- inspired by his reading of Malthus -- met a similar fate. The obloquy stirred up by their first publication in 1859, has never died down. The Muslim faith and many Muslim states totally reject Darwinism, as do some Christian sects.  In the USA to this day battles continually surge to and fro over the inclusion of Darwinian theory in school, college, and university curricula. 

Darwin was lucky to acquire a doughty supporter in the shape of  the great biologist, T.H. Huxley (coiner of the word 'agnostic') who discharged this function with such fierce effectiveness that he became widely known as 'Darwin's Bulldog'.

Sadly, although he has at all times had numerous and very well-deserved friends and admirers, the many furious attacks on Malthus have so far failed to goad a contemporary British bulldog out of its kennel. Until the day that happens then I -- though a convinced Humanist -- will keep on doing my best, as his terrier, at least -- barking as loudly and often as I can and nipping the heels of the pseudo-intellectual/moralising smart-set who rubbish him – apparently without ever troubling to read what he actually said – to fill the bulldog gap for the devout Christian, The Reverend T.R. Malthus.

Two centuries ago Bob Malthus got nearly all the basics right, fundamental facts and relationships which we ignore at our peril. Regardless of the desires, needs, values, and  philosophies of  those who inhabit them and/or pontificate about them, all social/cultural/religious/ economic /political  systems must obey the universal ecological imperatives or go under. The history books overflow with examples of societies and whole civilisations which failed in this elemental task. Failure to survive is not the exception but the norm.

*(When they were small, my own two children called my subject (and sometimes me) "Populash")