The shadow of the world's future, or The earth's population possibilities & the consequences of the present rate of increase of the earth's inhabitants

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1775636852

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-164018

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Knibbs, George Handley http://d-nb.info/gnd/1045010944

Title:: The shadow of the world's future, or The earth's population possibilities & the consequences of the present rate of increase of the earth's inhabitants

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Ernest Benn Limited

Year of publication:: (1928)

Scope:: 131 Seiten

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter X. New malthusianism and man's future

Collection:: Economics Books

NEW MALTHUSIANISM 113 the future of the human race should be safeguarded from the mischief that such people perpetuate. A sardonic and disinterested observer of the issues for the earth might well smile at the interest taken in the breeding of its animal and bird stocks, colla- terally with the neglect of human progeny. “ Why this orientation of genetics?” he might well ask. Is humanity to take its chances without guidance, or are the accumulations of a knowledge of heredity to be used in the interests of its difficult future? To what is mankind to be devoted? Is it to be to ruthless economic aggrandisements with their frightful con- sequences ; of is it to be to economic adjustments with a normal, steadier, and more friendly life? This is the problem, and Malthus was one of the very few who had a clear vision of the great controlling factor. Man can be for ever the victim of blind impulse and of egoistic greed, or he can witness ameliorative action based on true eugenics and a finer sense of the claims of those who are to be. Is this all a fatuous and futile dream, or is it a guiding aspiration? The last one hundred and twenty-five years have seen the development of the great locomotive, of the enormous liner, of the airship and aeroplane, of telegraphy, of telephony, and wireless communication. It has wit- nessed a wonderful reduction of the menaces to the beginnings of human life. It has been characterised by an enormous increase in the average length of life of all born, the expectation of life at birth. In Australia in one-third of a century the death-rate for the first year of life fell to 46 per cent. of what it was. At the age of minimum mortality, IT years and 10 months, it fell to 59 per cent, of its original value ; at every age up to 86 it has witnessed improvement. These are amazing advances. But they mean that Man carries new responsibilities, and that there are certain consequences which involve international adjustments.

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