Cultural Selection / Edition 1

by A. Fog

Overview

1. INTRODUCTION This book describes a new interdisciplinary theory for explaining cultural change. In contrast to traditional evolutionist theories, the present theory stresses the fact that a culture can evolve in different directions depending on its life conditions. Cultural selection theory explains why certain cultures or cultural ele­ ments spread, possibly at the expense of other cultures or cultural elements which then disappear. Cultural elements include social structure, traditions, religion, rituals, art, norms, morals, ideologies, ideas, inventions, knowledge, technology, etc. This theory is inspired by Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection, because cultural elements are seen as analogous to genes in the sense that they may be reproduced from generation to generation and they may undergo change. A culture may evolve because certain cultural elements are more likely to spread and be reproduced than others, analogously to a species evolving because individuals possessing certain traits are more fit than others to reproduce and transmit these traits to their offspring.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792355793
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	02/28/1999
Edition description:	1999
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction.- 2. The History of Cultural Selection Theory.- 3. Fundamental Model for Cultural Selection.- 4. Further Development of the Model.- 5. Cultural Selection Throughout the Times.- 6. Demography.- 7. Social Organization Among Baboons.- 8. Sociology of Deviance.- 9. Mass Media.- 10. Sexual Behavior.- 11. Art.- 12. Play, Games and Sport.- 13. Discussion and Conclusion.- 14. The Future.- 15. Explanation of Words.- 16. Literature.- 17. Keyword Index.

Editorial Reviews

Offers a new interdisciplinary theory for explaining cultural change, which stresses the fact that a culture can evolve in different directions depending on its life conditions. First reviews cultural selection theory including its history and the features and details of various schools of thought. Then introduces a new cultural r/k theory, which reveals causal connections between religion, politics, ethics, art, and sexual behavior and uses it to explain the fall of Rome, the advent of rock music in the later Soviet Union, the contemporary anti- pornography movement in the US, and other phenomena. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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