Which concept aligns with Malthus's ideas and is associated with thinkers like Paul Ehrlich?

The concept that aligns with Malthus's ideas and connects with thinkers like Paul Ehrlich is Neo-Malthusianism. This school of thought builds on Thomas Malthus's original theories about population growth surpassing agricultural production, leading to resource shortages and potential societal collapse. Neo-Malthusians advocate for population control measures and express concern about the sustainability of resources as the human population continues to grow, mirroring Ehrlich's worries about overpopulation and environmental degradation.

Malthus highlighted the relationship between population growth and food supply, asserting that if population growth remained unchecked, it would lead to famine and a decline in living standards. Neo-Malthusians extend this perspective by emphasizing modern issues such as ecological limits, the environment's carrying capacity, and the implications of rapid population increase in contemporary society. They argue that without significant intervention to manage population growth, we may face dire consequences.

In contrast, while population dynamics encompasses the study of changing populations, it does not specifically endorse Malthusian or Neo-Malthusian views. Ecosystem resilience and resource depletion, although related to environmental studies and concerns about sustainability, do not directly connect to the foundational population theories posited by Malthus and those who followed in his footsteps.