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The Economic Functions of Vice

By John McElroy
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History - Modern (1750+)Philosophy & EthicsPsychiatry/PsychologySociology

About This Book

An extended essay contends that vice operates as a functional mechanism that compensates for nature's overproduction by eliminating excess and unfit individuals. Drawing on natural history and evolutionary ideas, it compares animal fecundity and predation with human immunity from natural enemies, and argues that social vices and self-destructive behaviors effectively perform the population-limiting role absent in humanity. It examines implications for social policy, moral judgment, and the selection of those deemed surplus, warning that public sentiment complicates any deliberate system of exclusion while describing vice as an inevitable, if troubling, corrective.

About the Author

McElroy, John portrait

John McElroy

John McElroy was an American author and journalist, best known for his vivid depictions of the American Civil War. His most notable work, "Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons," provides a harrowing account of life in one of the war's most infamous prisons, drawing on his own experiences as a soldier. In addition to this significant historical narrative, McElroy created the "Si Klegg" series, a humorous and engaging portrayal of a soldier's life, which reflects the trials and camaraderie of military service. His writings contribute to the literary heritage of Civil War literature, offering both insight and entertainment.

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