Marx contra Parson Naturalists

Both Marx and Darwin emerged as critics of the Parson Naturalists (like Malthus) who attempted to put teleological principles into naturalism. One such theological naturalist, Paley, used the analogy of the watchmaker to infer design on natural phenomena, such as the eye. Darwin’s criticism of the watchmaker argument was the lack of a conception of the “arrow of time”.

Malthus’ Essay on Population suggested that the Deity designed humanity so that population growth is geometric, while the growth in food supply is arithmetic. Therefore, there will be a point in which population will outstrip food supply, and population will be kept in check by famine. This was not considered a negative thing, however, because only those who have chosen to disobey the natural laws of God are punished with famine.

Malthus’ ideas stem from the debate between Wallace and Godwin. Wallace believed that a perfect government would result in the increase of population beyond what can be sustained, while Godwin believed that our population would depend upon our wealth and wages.

As human beings come to know that they “have a duty towards those who are not yet born,” they will regulate human population accordingly “rather than foolishly encumber the world with useless and wretched beings.

Malthus, however believed that vice and misery was necessary to keep population at equilibrium, and that a class of capitalists and workers was also necessary. Government policy that attempted to deal with poverty, misery, and vice, was denying the necessities to keep population in check. This writing served as a means to strengthen power of the capitalists over workers, and to disorganize working class opposition. Malthus’ disciple, Thomas Chalmers continued the work of Malthus stating that the hand of God works among property rights, and abolition of Poor Laws to bring about the best result for humanity. It was this marriage between capitalism and naturalist Theology that plays a crucial role in the detachment of humanity from nature.

This also seems to be a common thread in the current right in the USA. The Randroids and the intelligent design fans continue to join forces in America. Regulation continues to get in the way of God’s design, and the sciences (though accepted at the doctors office) are seen as an attempt to move us away from god’s design.