工业革命与英国贫困观念的变化

Industrial Revolution and the Change of the Idea of Poverty in Britain

随着工业革命的发展,英国人的贫困观念发生了变化。中产阶级认为贫穷是上帝对懒汉的惩罚,要求废除《济贫法》,认为极端贫困的人,必须到济贫院。边沁从功利的原则出发,认为贫困不仅是对个人安全的威胁,也是对社会的威胁,因此,政府必须通过立法来干预贫困问题,根本的救助还是来自于独立的劳动。19世纪30年代英国政府济贫制度改革就是以他们的理论为基础的。

With the development of industrial revolution, the idea of poverty had been changed in Britain. The middle class thought the poverty was the punishment to the indolence by God. They appealed to abolish The Poor Law, and they thought that the destitute pauper should go into the workhouse. Bentham＇ principle was utilitarianism, he thought the fundamental relief should be come from independent labour, The poor relief reform of the British Government in 19th century thirties was carried through underlie these theory.