Malthus, Population Growth, and Climate Flashcards
Thomas Malthus’ opinion about populations
people will grow at a much faster rate than food, and when food production falls behind poverty, famine, war, etc will occur –> only way to fix it is population control
Preventative checks
Things that will prevent the population from growing (ex. abstinence)
Positive checks
Things that will control the already existing population (ex. disease/famine)
Critiques of Malthus
racist, anti impoverished people not anti poverty, people blaming
Inequality Critique of Malthusian thinking
Population growth is not what is causing poverty it is that: poverty and hunger cause environmental degradation, economic inequality is a product of histories of development, and food shortages are due to problems of access and overconsumption
Technologic critique of Malthusian thinking
Perceives people as resources who can solve problems through technological advancement; population growth is not an issue
Demographic critique of Malthusian thinking
population growth rates vary over time as modernization progresses; cannot necessarily be applied to every country
Cohort
a group of people brought together by experiencing a similar event at the same time
Period
a specific time frame/span
Period effect
influence everyone alive at a given moment
Cohort effect
influence the members of a defined group
Substinence
Needs (not just biological, but also social and cultural needs)
Resources
materials available in nature that are capable of being transformed into things of utility for humans
Scarcity
lack of natural means to accomplish social ends
IPAT equation
I = PAT
I = impact on the environment; P=population size; A=affluence; T=technology
