/lit/ - Literature

>>11658018
Edith Wharton

Few thinkers have been so wrongly maligned or misunderstood as Thomas Malthus. Often seen as an advocate for birth control, this is about as accurate and popular as calling Nietzsche an advocate for nihilism. Malthus, in his essay on population, specifically says a high birthrate, while not specifically guaranteeing prosperity, is a basic criterion for it. He is also certainly no utilitarian, arguing that even though misery is undesirable, abolishing hardship and pain altogether would turn humans into narcissistic brats.

He gained his reputation from those offended by his argument against the welfare state, and also communism. To illustrate an issue he raises with the first, imagine a state with universal basic income. Those living on it would not have to sacrifice any income for their children, and so would likely children (which they ought not until they get a job). This would drive up the price of food without production being added to. This raises the cost of living for low income workers more and more, making them more likely to get sucked into the blackhole of state aid, worsening the problem. This is always an issue if people are not required to support their children, and "society" is expected to.

I recently created a discord for conservative /lit/ (you don't have to be conservative to join, just have an interest in conservative literature). Will add more channels today

https://discord.gg/c5Vga4E