From: Darwin, Desmond & Moore 1991

Malthus

Darwin started living in lodgings in 1837 in the Great Marlboroughstreet in Londen (see above). He was invited to become a member of the Geological Society and soon thereafter he became secretary. Little by little his attention began to move towards the transmutation of species. In July 1837 he opened his secret Notebook B, in which he noted his thoughts on this subject. On the first page he wrote the word 'Zoönomia', the titel of the book of his grandfather Erasmus. He saw increasingly more indications for the changeability of species. For example in the mocking birds and the finches of the Galapagos. Also in the geology, because changes in the landscape must have consequences for plants and animals. But he still didn't understand how that was happening.

Until September 1838, when he was reading the article 'An Essay on the Principle of Population' by Malthus (1798). In this Malthus explained that a population doubles each 25 years whereas the amount of food increases much less. Thus there will be poverty and unemployment. Malthus' remedy is to let things drift and not to support the poor. Charity must be abolished. The competition between the poor will limit the number of their children and moreover they will try to make themselves useful by working for less money. Many of them will emigrate. (Darwin did not support this idea at all). While reading Malthus, suddenly Darwin understands. In nature too populations are increasing exponentially (= very fast) and by shortage of food and room there will be a 'struggle for life'  (Malthus' term).  Know more? Thomas Malthus

Darwin 24

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