Malthus's Essay on Population was seen in 1798 as a complete refutation of Godwin and all 'Jacobin' ideology. It proved that a state of equality and justice for all was unfeasible; and it demonstrated the inevitability and beneficence of private property and political institutions. But its central theme, the dominance of scarcity in human affairs, presented the theological 'problem of evil' in novel and threatening form. For thirty-five years both the economics and the theology of the Essay were modified and refined: first by Paley, Sumner and Malthus himself, and later by Copleston, Whately and Chalmers. The result was 'Christian Political Economy': an ideological alliance of political economy and Christian theology, congenial to a new 'liberal-conservatism' in the early nineteenth century, which found middle ground between the ultra-tory defence of the ancien regime and a 'radical' repudiation of existing institutions, Thanks to Whately's demarcation of 'scientific' from 'theological' knowledge, Christian Political Economy was able to beat off the Benthamite challenge of 'Philosophic Radicalism' and to remain ideologically dominant for most of the nineteenth century.
As an unintended outcome of all this ideological polemic, there emerged certain ideas now recognized as fundamental to economic science. Professor Waterman analyses this story of the 'intellectual repulse of revolution', and describes the ideological alliance of political economy and Christian theology after 1798. In doing so, he supplies the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle of English intellectual history, and offers the first clear analysis of the axial period between the 1790s and 1832.
Industry Reviews
"In this carefully argued book, A.M.C. Waterman explores an important theme in late eighteenth- and early-nineteenth century British intellectual history." Catholic Historical Review "Th[is]...volume...shows energy and scholarly rigor and is very stimulating." Albion "...one of those books which exemplifies the eye for detail and depth of inquiry to which all scholars aspire. In the process of defending 19th Centural Christian Political Economy, he weaves an intricate historical tapestry of personalities, library collections, correspondence and institutional rivalries. Most significantly, he brings to the forefront significant insights into the interaction between the development of economic theory, theology, and political philosophy at the onset of the 19th century." Roger Johnson, Bulletin of the Association of Christian Economists "This is a clearly structured and well-written book on the sort of interdisciplinary issue that we all pay homage to but seldom engage in...There is a great deal of very valuable material here: the delineation of the common ground between Godwin and Malthus; the extent to which Godwin adumbrates Marxian thought; the connection between Abraham Tucker and Malthus; the emphasis on theology and the importance of doctrine to those intended for the Church; and the importance of Paley at Cambridge. Much can be learned by paying attention to what Waterman has to say on these issues." Salim Rashid, History of Political Economy
