投资 · 西方古典
托马斯·马尔萨斯:人口论·摘录 37
托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资
The absolute population at any one period, in proportion to the extent of territory, could never be great, on account of the unproductive nature of some of the regions occupied; but there appears to have been a most rapid succession of human beings, and as fast as some were mowed down by the scythe of war or of famine, others rose in increased numbers to supply their place. Among these bold and improvident Barbarians, population was probably but little checked, as in modern states, from a fear of future difficulties. A prevailing hope of bettering their condition by change of place, a constant expectation of plunder, a power even, if distressed, of selling their children as slaves, added to the natural carelessness of the barbaric character, all conspired to raise a population which remained to be repressed afterwards by famine or war.
出处:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位:Excerpt 37 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录
白话
由于有些地区贫瘠,任何时期的总人口相对于领土面积都不会太多。但人口更替极快:战争或饥荒像镰刀一样收割一批人,马上又有更多新人补上。这些蛮族胆大且不顾将来,人口很少像现代国家那样因担心未来困难而受到抑制。他们普遍希望换个地方改善处境,总期待抢掠,甚至困顿时可以卖儿卖女,加上天性不在乎,这些因素共同推高了人口,直到后来被饥荒或战争压制。
上下文
马尔萨斯分析游牧民族人口为何增长迅速,指出他们缺乏现代人的远虑和节制。
今日一问
我们今天的哪些行为,其实也是在用“到时候再说”来回避长远风险?
公版作品;原文逐字取自 Project Gutenberg,仅摘录段落并附全书链接。
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