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Thomas Robert Malthus—Philosopher of Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2017

Samuel M. Levin
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Extract

In recalling the name of Malthus at this time, as we approach the bicentennial of his birth, it is well to remind ourselves that this eminent thinker has won a place of honor for himself in demography, economics, and sociology; perhaps also in biology, remembering the testimony of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, regarding the way in which a reading of the Essay on the Principle of Population, helped to bring about the statement of the theory of natural selection. But rarely, if ever, does one think of Malthus as a contributor of significant ideas on the theme of education. Even the specialist does not point to him for enlightening concepts on educational purpose, policy, or content.

Type
Research Article
Information
History of Education Quarterly , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , December 1964 , pp. 224 - 231
Copyright
Copyright © 1964, University of Pittsburgh Press 

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References

Notes

1. In February, 1966.Google Scholar

2. Address to Congress, March 16, 1964.Google Scholar

3. Maithus, Thomas R., An Essay on the Principle of Population Seventh edition, Everyman's Library, II, 168.Google Scholar

4. This point of view was clearly stated by Alfred North Whitehead of Harvard in the 20's when he wrote: “Education is the acquisition of the art of the utilization of knowledge.” Again: “… the understanding which we want is an understanding of an insistent present.” See The Aims of Education and Other Essays, Ch. 1.Google Scholar

5. What he had in mind was an educational program which included the dissemination of knowledge among the poor on matters relating to marriage, births, deaths, and responsibility for care of the family.Google Scholar

6. Malthus, op. cit., 168.Google Scholar

7. Ibid., 213.Google Scholar

8. Ibid., 215. It is worthy of note that as early as 1803 Malthus believed that a knowledge of political economy should be made available to the public. “If, however,” he wrote, “political economy cannot be taught to the common people, I really think that it ought to form a branch of university education.” By the end of 1825, this hope was on the way to realization, for lectures, in this field, were being given in Cambridge, London, and Liverpool, and a chair had been established at Oxford. See Malthus, op. cit., Note (1825), 212.Google Scholar

9. Ibid., 177.Google Scholar

10. Ibid., 186.Google Scholar

11. Ibid., 143.Google Scholar

12. Ibid., 168.Google Scholar

13. Ibid., 198, 170.Google Scholar

14. Malthus, First edition, Royal Economic Society Reprint, London, (1926), 254.Google Scholar

15. Malthus, Seventh edition, II, 259.Google Scholar

16. Malthus, First edition, 356-59.Google Scholar

17. Ibid.Google Scholar

18. John R. Commons, Institutional Economics (New York, 1934), 245-246.Google Scholar

19. Malthus, First edition, Preface IV.Google Scholar

20. Ibid., 382-83.Google Scholar

21. Ibid., 383.Google Scholar

22. Ibid., 373.Google Scholar

23. Malthus, Seventh edition, II, 169.Google Scholar

24. Malthus, First edition, 369.Google Scholar

25. Ibid., 380.Google Scholar

26. Ibid., 396, 378.Google Scholar