In 1968, Paul Ehrlich, a Stanford University professor, claimed that overpopulation would lead to famines and starvation in the 1970s and 1980s. In his book The Population Bomb , he said that unless population growth was curbed, millions around the world would die. However, as we now know, this did not happen. What do you think was the flaw in Ehrlich's argument?

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Glenn Goodwin

10 May, 13:43

In 1968, Paul Ehrlich, a Stanford University professor, claimed that overpopulation would lead to famines and starvation in the 1970s and 1980s. In his book The Population Bomb , he said that unless population growth was curbed, millions around the world would die. However, as we now know, this did not happen. What do you think was the flaw in Ehrlich's argument?

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Kamari Myers · Answer 1

The flaw in Ehrlich's argument is imprecision.

Explanation:

Known worldwide for alarmist book "The Population Bomb" (1968), Paul Ehrlich stated that by 1970:

" ... hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now ... "

The main idea of his book - jointly written with his wife Anne Ehrlich, is to aware humanity about the rapid growth of the earth's population. In fact, since the 18th century, it has grown 600% but even if our planet's resources are finite the catastrophic end the Ehrlichs predestined is unlikely to happen in the upcoming years.