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托马斯·马尔萨斯:人口论·摘录 132

托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资

Restraint, Mr Godwin thinks, may be permitted as a temporary expedient, though he reprobates solitary imprisonment, which has certainly been the most successful, and, indeed, almost the only attempt towards the moral amelioration of offenders. He talks of the selfish passions that are fostered by solitude and of the virtues generated in society. But surely these virtues are not generated in the society of a prison. Were the offender confined to the society of able and virtuous men he would probably be more improved than in solitude. But is this practicable? Mr Godwin's ingenuity is more frequently employed in finding out evils than in suggesting practical remedies.

出处: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位:Excerpt 132 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录

白话

马尔萨斯反驳葛德文对监禁的批评。葛德文认为可以暂时限制犯人,但反对单独监禁,说孤独会滋生自私,社会交往才能培养美德。马尔萨斯反问:监狱里的社会交往能培养美德吗?如果把犯人关在能干善良的人中间,或许比单独监禁更好,但这做得到吗?他讽刺葛德文擅长挑毛病,却提不出可行的补救办法。核心是:批评容易,建设难;道德改造不能只靠空想,得考虑实际条件。

上下文

马尔萨斯在《人口论》中批评葛德文的社会改革方案,认为其理想化且不切实际。

今日一问

当你批评一个制度时,是否也想过可行的替代方案?

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