Three Dimensions of Engels’ Criticism of Malthus’ Population TheoryText Interpretation Based on the Critical Outline of National Economics

The Critical Outline of National Economics is an important document for Engels to criticize Malthus’ population theory. Political criticism, social criticism and economic criticism are three important dimensions of Engels’ criticism of Malthus’ population theory. The starting point of Engels’ political criticism of Malthus’ population theory is to expose the capitalist society full of fraud and hypocrisy; Engels’ social criticism of Malthus’ population theory is based on the construction of an ideal society with a “purely human and universal foundation”; The three entry points of Engels’ economic criticism of Malthus’ population theory are capital, labor and technology under capitalist private ownership. Engels’ criticism of Malthus’ population theory has left us an important inspiration, which suggests that we firmly follow the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, construct China’ s population policy, adhere to the evaluation of population policy with a grand historical perspective, adhere to scientific and technological innovation, and ensure that scientific and technological achievements benefit all working people.