Question

“The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race. The vices of mankind are active and able ministers of depopulation. They are the precursors in the great army of destruction and often finish the dreadful work themselves. But should they fail in this war of extermination, sickly seasons, epidemics, pestilence, and plague advance in terrific array, and sweep off their thousands and tens of thousands. Should success be still incomplete, gigantic inevitable famine stalks in the rear, and with one mighty blow levels the population with the food of the world.” – Thomas Robert Malthus, An essay on the principle of population, 1798.

Is the ‘mighty blow’ that Malthus refers to a preventive or a positive check?

विकल्प

• Preventive check

• Positive check

• Both preventive and positive check

• Neither preventive nor positive check

Answer 1

Mighty blow is a positive check i.e. famine.