Reforma opieki społecznej i zdrowotnej jako czynnik poprawy parametrów ilościowych i jakościowych potencjału ludnościowego według populacjonistów polskich drugiej połowy XVIII wieku

Abstract

Polish population researchers in the second half of the 18th century, such as Antoni Popławski, Józef Wybicki and Jan Ferdynand Nax, constructed their concepts drawing on knowledge from the then-popular domain of economic studies, from the experience of other countries, as well as from their familiarity with common appeals for reform in the Republic of Poland. That is why the opinions expressed in their work are partly convergent, for example their views on the necessity to improve the situation of peasants, to recognize agriculture as a main branch of the economy, to force the idlers to commence work, to retrieve hospital funds, to employ professional medical personnel, etc. These researchers held the State responsible for improvement in these matters, and believed that health care and social welfare should be included in the reform of the Republic. Numerous, free and healthy population was expected to become effective in the manufacturing process. Those ideas generated genuine public attention and discussions which had significant impact on the formation of a new approach to the question of population, as well as on the new status of social welfare and health care.