Paul Ehrlich adopted Reverend Thomas Malthus's view on population growth. Malthus believed that there was "tension between populations growing exponentially and limited subsistence doomed humanity to harsh suffering" (Sabin 2014, p. 6). Due to populations rapidly doubling and subsistences incremental increasing families would run out of food and suffer from starvation. Specifically, "famine, unbelievable pollution, elimination of land for recreation, education only those who can pay for it, deterioration of services" according to Charles Remington who shared views with Ehrlich (Sabin 2014, p. 28). I agree that humans should be wary on overpopulation in hundreds (maybe thousands) of years from now, although, I believe that through new technologies, there won't be harsh sufferings. Due to fossil fuels, mass productions and agricultural innovations allowed an increase in food supplies around the world. Humans are not parasites, and our reproduction will not be our downfall (Sabin 2014, p. 27). I believe that we may run out of natural resources {if we do not have any other options after the depletion of fossil fuels} but will prosper through innovation.
For more info on The Bet click here
Sabin, Paul. 2014. The Bet: Paul Ehrlich, Julian Simon, and Our Gamble over Earth’s Future. New Haven: Yale UP.
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