Of the three English writers whose work has become a portion of all Political Economy, Malthus is the second in time and in honour. His services to general theory are at least equal to Ricardo’s; and his full illustration of one particular detail will rank with the best work of Adam Smith.
In the following pages the detail will be the main subject, and general theory the episode. The Political Economy and minor writings of Malthus (which are not few) will be noticed only in relation to the Essay on Population.
Accordingly, the First of these Five Books will deal with the genesis, history, and contents of the Essay, plunging the reader in medias res and keeping him there, till the facts force him, in the Second Book, to recur with the author to Economical theory. The Third will show the mind of Malthus more clearly by adding to his economics his Ethics and Political Philosophy; and the Fourth, with the case now fully stated, will criticize the Critics of the Essay, and try to determine how much of its doctrine remains still valuable. The Fifth Book, with its Biography, may help the reader to associate the living personality of the man with his writings.
London, June 1885.