Fruits of Philosophy: A Treatise on the Population Question

First published in the mid‑nineteenth century, this pamphlet tackles the contentious “population question” from a medical and social perspective. Its author, a physician, argues that controlling family size is essential for public welfare, a stance that provoked legal action and fierce criticism from moral authorities of the era. The introduction recounts a long trail of radical publishers who kept the work in circulation despite accusations of indecency, positioning it as a cornerstone of early freethought literature.

The edition you’ll hear has been carefully restored, with obsolete spelling corrected and modern scientific notes added by a contemporary expert. While the original prose reflects the fervent language of its time, the supplementary commentary helps listeners separate historical opinion from current understanding of physiology and demographics. This recording offers a window into a spirited debate about personal liberty, public health, and the limits of permissible speech in a rapidly changing society.