Eight contemporary population growth (PG) thinkers serve as a representative sampling of the cross-section of current PG ideas. Using the philosophical models of problems provided by Laudan (1977) and Nickles (1978, 1980a, 1981), these eight PG spokespersons are shown to have different conceptions of what a "problem" is. Such differences are shown to have significant impact in ordering the present PG debate. In particular, these differences are a source of incommensurability and/or disagreement among the thinkers. They are also entail that alternative senses of the "real problems" are being considered. The final chapter recommends a framework which will improve PG discourse as it presently stands. Emphasis is placed on interaction of the spokespersons, integration of other literatures (in particular, ecological economics and feminist scholarship), and delivery of argument. / Master of Science