Population Problem Essay Research Paper The Population

Population Problem Essay, Research Paper

The Population Problem

Two hundred years ago, Thomas Malthus, in An Essay on the Principle of

Population, reached the conclusion that the number of people in the world will

increase exponentially, while the ability to feed these people will only

increase arithmetically (21). Current evidence shows that this theory may not

be far from the truth. For example, between 1950 and 1984, the total amount of

grain produced more than doubled, much more than the increase in population in

those 34 years. More recently though, these statistics have become reversed.

From 1950 to 1984, the amount of grain increased at 3 percent annually. Yet,

from 1984 to 1993, grain production had grown at barely 1 percent per year, a

decrease in grain production per person of 12 percent (Brown 31). Also

strengthening to Malthus’ argument is the theory that the world population will

increase to over 10 billion by 2050, two times what it was in 1990 (Bongaarts

36). Demographers predict that 2.8 billion people were added to the world

population between 1950 and 1990, an average of 70,000 a year. Between 1990

and 2030, it is estimated that another 3.6 billion will be added, an average of

90,000 a year (Brown 31). Moreover, in the 18th century, the world population

growth was 0.34%; it increased to 0.54% in the 19th century and in the first

half of the 20th century to 0.84% (Weiskel 40). Neo-Malthusians base their

arguments on the teachings of Thomas Malthus. Of the Neo-Malthusians, Garrett

Hardin is one of the most prominent and controversial. Hardin’s essays discuss

the problem of overpopulation and the effects it will have on the future. In

Lifeboat Ethics, he concludes that continuous increases in population will have

disastrous outcomes. Neo-Malthusian arguments come under much scrutiny by those

who believe that the population explosion is only a myth. Those who hold these

beliefs state that the evidence Neo-Malthusians use to justify their views is

far from conclusive. Critics hold that the Neo-Malthusian call for

authoritarian control is much too radical. Thus, these critics belittle the

theories of Neo-Malthusians on the basis that population is not a problem.

However radical Hardin’s theories may be, current evidence shows that he may not

be too far off the mark. It is hardly arguable that the population has

increased in the past few decades, for current statistics show that this

actually is the case. Equally revealing, is the fact that vast amounts of land

are being transformed into more living space. More people means more waste,

more pollution, and more development. With this taken into consideration, it

seems that Hardin’s teachings should no longer fall on deaf ears. When

discussing the issue of population, it is important to note that it is one of

the most controversial issues facing the world today. Population growth, like

many other environmental issues, has two sides. One side will claim that the

population explosion is only a myth, while the other side will argue that the

population explosion is reality. Because of this, statistics concerning this

subject vary widely. But, in order to persuade, it is necessary to take one

side or the other. Thus, statistics may be questioned as to their validity,

even though the statistics come from credible sources.

Lifeboat Ethics

The United States is the most populous country in the world, behind only China

and India. Unlike China and India though, the United States is the fastest

growing industrialized nation. The United States’ population expands so quickly

because of the imbalance between migration and immigration, and births and

deaths. For example, in 1992, 4.1 million babies were born. Weighing this

statistic against the number of deaths and the number of people who entered and

left the country, the result was that the United States obtained 2.8 million

more people than it had gotten rid of (Douglis 12). Population increases place

great strain on the American society and more particularly it causes tremendous

destruction to the natural environment. For example, more than half of the

wetlands in the United States are gone, and of all of the original forest cover,

90 percent has been destroyed. This depletion has caused the near extinction of

over 796 individual plants and animals. At least part of the year, the air that

over 100 million people breathe is too dirty to meet federal standards. And

finally, almost 15 million people are subject to polluted water supplies

(Douglis 12). It is very likely that total destruction of the environment can

take place and probably will if something is not done to curb the population

growth. When discussing Hardin’s essays it is necessary to confront the

problem of immigration. Immigration is responsible for approximately 40 percent

of the population growth

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