Yes, and it is worth noting that one of Malthus's disciples -- Thomas Chalmers (who was also lampooned by Marx) -- was eventually won over to the argument for the shorter working day. That was actually quite an interesting progression in the history of economic thought.
On Wed, Dec 28, 2011 at 7:19 PM, michael perelman < [email protected]> wrote: > But the conservative interests, which Malthus served, prevented him > from seeing that an unlimited prolongation of the working day, > combined with an extraordinary development of machinery, and the > exploitation of women and children, must inevitably have made a great > portion of the working-class “supernumerary,” particularly whenever > the war should have ceased, and the monopoly of England in the markets > of the world should have come to an end. It was, of course, far more > convenient, and much more in conformity with the interests of the > ruling classes, whom Malthus adored like a true priest, to explain > this “over-population” by the eternal laws of Nature, rather than by > the historical laws of capitalist production.-- > Michael Perelman > Economics Department > California State University > Chico, CA > 95929 > > 530 898 5321 > fax 530 898 5901 > http://michaelperelman.wordpress.com > _______________________________________________ > pen-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l > -- Sandwichman
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