Relationship between “The Social” and　Population Theory in Japan

Positioning of　Malthusian Population Theory in Social Policy

Abstract

　This paper aims to reexamine the genealogical study of “The Social” in Japan

in relation to the debate over population. Specifically, it focuses on discussions

regarding the right to existence in social policy and examines its relationship to

population theory.

　It was believed that the right to existence, the starting point of “The Social” in

Japan, was limited by Malthus’ law of population, and concurrently, that the

limit was extended by the law of population. This is because it was considered

that the struggle for existence resulting from the law of population denies the

universal right to existence and, at the same time, constitutes the mechanism of

progress. Then, by connecting to the idea of the “progress” of social policy, the

latter aspect was especially emphasized in social policy.

　Conversely, it was believed that social order would be broken if the struggle

for existence became too intense due to population increase. In relation to “order,”

another concept of social policy, the issue of the right to existence became

newly positioned as an issue of life security.

　Thus, to create a state of competition in the compatibility of “progress” and

“order,” social policy attempted to control the population, which is the fundamental

condition of competition. Subsequently, a comprehensive population

policy, which should be called “the social population policy,” was instituted.