Question

Why did the Giver advise the community to not increase the number of births?

Answer 1

The Giver advised against increasing births to prevent overpopulation and resource scarcity, reflecting Malthusian theory which predicts crisis from unchecked population growth. Encouraging preventive checks like birth control can help achieve a sustainable population.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Giver advised the community not to increase the number of births to prevent societal strain and potential crises such as famine, disease, and warfare - situations that historically led populations to reduce numbers to survive. Inspired by Malthusian theory, which posits that populations grow geometrically while resources grow arithmetically, the advice was meant to ensure that everyone had enough resources to live without resorting to extreme measures for survival. Since human populations can grow rapidly but the amount of available resources increases much more slowly, unchecked growth can lead to scarcity and conflict. Therefore, applying preventive checks such as birth control can help maintain a balance between population size and resource availability.

Furthermore, from an economic standpoint, having too many children can put needless stress on the social system, leading to poor living conditions for both rich and poor. Such principles also tie into concerns regarding population growth and resource allocation, where even seemingly small growth rates can greatly increase pressure on natural resources over the long term. Ultimately, the need for a sustainable population size that aligns with ecosystem limits and ensures long-term human happiness is emphasized, where personal choice in reproductive behavior plays a crucial role.

Answer 2

The Giver recommended limiting births to prevent overpopulation and to ensure sustainable resource use, reflecting theories like those of Malthus and practical considerations in family planning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Giver advised the community to not increase the number of births due to the potential strain on resources and the aim of maintaining a stable, sustainable population. The concerns echo historical and modern arguments about population control, such as those presented by Malthusian theory, which suggests that unchecked population growth could lead to crises like famines, diseases, and wars due to the overuse of natural resources.

Furthermore, in contexts where large numbers of children may not survive to economic maturity, high birth rates were traditionally seen as a hedge against the loss of potential economic contributors. However, in a controlled society like that in The Giver, the goal is to ensure a balance between population size and available resources, to avoid the pitfalls of overpopulation, and to ensure a high quality of life for all community members.