投资 · 西方古典
托马斯·马尔萨斯:人口论·摘录 60
托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资
A man who might not be deterred from going to the ale-house from the consideration that on his death, or sickness, he should leave his wife and family upon the parish might yet hesitate in thus dissipating his earnings if he were assured that, in either of these cases, his family must starve or be left to the support of casual bounty. In China, where the real as well as nominal price of labour is very low, sons are yet obliged by law to support their aged and helpless parents. Whether such a law would be advisable in this country I will not pretend to determine. But it seems at any rate highly improper, by positive institutions, which render dependent poverty so general, to weaken that disgrace, which for the best and most humane reasons ought to attach to it.
出处:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位:Excerpt 60 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录
白话
马尔萨斯认为,如果一个人知道即使自己生病或死亡,家人也只能靠教区救济,他可能仍会去酒馆挥霍;但如果他确信家人会因此挨饿或只能靠偶然施舍,他就会犹豫。在中国,法律要求儿子赡养年迈无助的父母。英国是否该效仿这种法律,马尔萨斯不愿断言。但他坚决反对用制度性救济让依赖性的贫困变得普遍,因为这会削弱贫困本应带来的羞耻感——这种羞耻感从最人道的原因看都应当保留。
上下文
马尔萨斯《人口论》1798年初版,讨论英国《济贫法》的后果,认为救济会削弱个人责任感。
今日一问
如果救济让贫困变得不那么难堪,人们会不会更少为未来负责?
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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