Thomas Robert Malthus, an English cleric who lived in both the 16th and 17th centuries declared that overpopulation of the world would soon lead to the doom of the human race. His claims were revived by Paul Ehrlich in 1970 with his book, The Population Bomb. In the book Ehrlich describes a world where increasing demand for food and resources leads to mass famine and worldwide crisis. Ehrlich, however, was rebutted by Julian Simon; an economist who believed that however large the population of Earth became technological innovation would be able to meet the demands of that population.
Personally, I agree with Simon as Paul Ehrlich's claims had been made before by Malthus and had amounted to nothing. Ehrlich is not accounting for the march of human progress towards the future and how problems will always exist, but where there is a problem there is also a solution. I'm less inclined to bet with Ehrlich against the human race in finding that solution.
Good comments - I share your perspective.
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