Cultural Evolution How Darwinian Theory Can Explain Human Culture and Synthesize

Description: Cultural Evolution How Darwinian Theory Can Explain Human Culture and Synthesize the Social Sciences by Alex Mesoudi Covering a range of topics, including fads, public policy, the spread of religion, and herd behavior in markets, this title shows that human culture is itself an evolutionary process that exhibits the key Darwinian mechanisms of variation, competition, and inheritance. It focuses on the ways cultural phenomena can be studied scientifically. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Charles Darwin changed the course of scientific thinking by showing how evolution accounts for the stunning diversity and biological complexity of life on earth. Recently, there has also been increased interest in the social sciences in how Darwinian theory can explain human culture. Covering a wide range of topics, including fads, public policy, the spread of religion, and herd behavior in markets, Alex Mesoudi shows that human culture is itself an evolutionary process that exhibits the key Darwinian mechanisms of variation, competition, and inheritance. This cross-disciplinary volume focuses on the ways cultural phenomena can be studied scientifically—from theoretical modeling to lab experiments, archaeological fieldwork to ethnographic studies—and shows how apparently disparate methods can complement one another to the mutual benefit of the various social science disciplines. Along the way, the book reveals how new insights arise from looking at culture from an evolutionary angle. Cultural Evolution provides a thought-provoking argument that Darwinian evolutionary theory can both unify different branches of inquiry and enhance understanding of human behavior. Author Biography Alex Mesoudi is a lecturer in psychology at Queen Mary, University of London. Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1 A Cultural Species 2 Cultural Evolution 3 Cultural Microevolution 4 Cultural Macroevolution I: Archaeology and Anthropology 5 Cultural Macroevolution II: Language and History 6 Evolutionary Experiments: Cultural Evolution in the Lab 7 Evolutionary Ethnography: Cultural Evolution in the Field 8 Evolutionary Economics: Cultural Evolution in the Marketplace 9 Culture in Nonhuman Species 10 Toward an Evolutionary Synthesis for the Social Sciences Notes Works Cited Index Review "Alex Mesoudi argues very persuasively that the way we think and act is enormously influenced by the culture in which we live and that the major elements of modern culture - science, technology, law, music, and religion - have evolved over time in a quite concrete sense of the term. His book is a very good read." (Richard R. Nelson, Columbia University)" Details ISBN0226520439 Author Alex Mesoudi Short Title CULTURAL EVOLUTION Language English ISBN-10 0226520439 ISBN-13 9780226520438 Media Book Format Hardcover Pages 280 Year 2011 Imprint University of Chicago Press Subtitle How Darwinian Theory Can Explain Human Culture and Synthesize the Social Sciences Place of Publication Chicago, IL Country of Publication United States Illustrations 11 line drawings, 2 tables Publication Date 2011-09-01 AU Release Date 2011-09-01 NZ Release Date 2011-09-01 US Release Date 2011-09-01 UK Release Date 2011-09-01 Publisher The University of Chicago Press DEWEY 306 Audience Undergraduate We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:161787117;

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