Fruits of Philosophy: A Treatise on the Population Question

"Fruits of Philosophy: A Treatise on the Population Question" by Charles Knowlton is a scientific work from the 1800s that tackles population control and healthy reproduction, promoting understanding and independence in family planning to improve the social and political climate. The treatise considers the effects of unlimited population increases to a population's overall prosperity and creates a moral structure around childbearing and reproduction. The beginning of the treatment presents a beforeword stressing the historic background of Knowlton's work, underlining past problems connected to the book's circulation to the public. The need to deal with overpopulation is addressed, as uncurbed increases can lead to considerable distress in society. The author emphasizes the importance of "scientific checks" to prevent population increases rather than relying on old ideas of self-control and physical limits. A philosophical point of view researches the idea of awareness by concentrating especially on the ties between feeling, pleasure, and the moral effects of childbearing, paving the way for later discussions on generation, marriage, and morality in reproduction.