William Godwin
This essay by Malthus was instigated as a reaction to the liberal political ideologies of William Godwin as expressed in a number of writings over time. Godwin’ central thesis known as the “perfectibility of society” seems to have especially stuck in the craw of Malthus, encouraging his response. Godwin, a major figure in British literature at the time is today more famous, of course, for being the father of the author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley.
Nicolas de Condorcet
Another writer whose work prompted a direct response was a French philosopher popularly known as the Marquis of Condorcet. Like Godwin, Condorcet also wrote of the theoretical possibility of the perfectibility of man. Also like Godwin, Condorcet was a leading figure in the progressive political movement of his country and as such took on a significant role as revolutionary fervor swept through France. Like many who originally supported the revolution, Condorcet would also become one of its victims, though he managed to avoid the guillotine by either committing suicide or being murdered in prison.
David Hume
Hume is one of the leading figures of Scottish Enlightenment, most famous for developing the concept of British Empiricism. He is vaguely credited by Malthus for his theories outlined in an earlier essay examining populations of both ancient and modern civilizations. However, he also criticizes Hume for making a “probable error” in developing his criterion for population estimation.
Adam Smith
A very good reason exists for why Malthus in general and this essay in particular is knocked by the left wing of the political spectrum. Malthus is a demi-god in the shadow of a full god of conservative thought named Adam Smith, Smith wrote the bible of capitalism, The Wealth of Nations, and Malthus makes no attempt to disguise his own likewise view of Smith. The two men are in complete agreement upon one of the foundational tenet of conservative ideology: “Smith has very justly observed that…every frugal man was a friend and every spendthrift an enemy to his country.” This aspect of the divergence of their thoughts from those of Godwin becomes a defining premise of the Malthusian argument.
