The population problem

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

77753

Title

The population problem

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A. M. Carr-Saunders offers a historical and evolutionary perspective on the population problem, tracing its origins to biological, anthropological, and economic factors. This scholarly work examines how natural selection, climate adaptation, and social customs shaped human evolution, providing a comprehensive analysis of population dynamics from a pre-war academic viewpoint.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Population Problem*, A. M. Carr-Saunders offers a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of human population regulation, arguing that population size is governed not merely by fecundity but by a complex interplay of elimination factors, environmental adaptation, and social practices. Writing from an historical and evolutionary standpoint, Carr-Saunders examines how primitive races, such as the Australians, Eskimos, and Bushmen, have developed specific biological adaptations to their climates. He details how factors like early marriage, prolonged lactation periods, and high child mortality serve as natural regulatory mechanisms. For instance, he notes that among many hunting and fishing races, cohabitation often begins immediately after puberty, while nursing periods extend for three to five years, effectively spacing births to match environmental carrying capacities. The text explores the role of natural selection in preserving existing racial types rather than driving rapid evolution. Carr-Saunders posits that while lethal selection was intense during early human history, it has diminished with the advent of civilization. He discusses the influence of ductless glands—specifically the pituitary, thyroid, and supra-renal bodies—on racial characteristics. Citing Professor Keith, he suggests that racial differences in facial features, stature, and pigmentation often stem from innate predispositions in glandular development rather than simple environmental modifications. For example, he attributes the prominent European features to a greater predominance of pituitary function, while thyroid activity influences the flattened facial structures seen in Mongol and Negroid types. Furthermore, the book addresses the impact of social change and war on population constitution, referencing historical data on the physical decline of the French following the Napoleonic wars as evidence of how conflict can alter a population's biological makeup. Carr-Saunders emphasizes that customs like infanticide and genital mutilation, while severe, do not necessarily reduce reproductive power but are part of a broader system of elimination that removes the physically weak or malformed. Ultimately, the work serves as a foundational text for understanding the intricate relationship between biology, environment, and societal development, urging readers to view population issues within a broad historical context where nature and nurture interact to shape human destiny.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Politics
• Science