An Essay Concerning Sociocultural Evolution

Theoretical Principles and Mathematical Models
1. Auflage. Softcover version of original hardcover Auflage 2002
ISBN: 978-90-481-6075-4
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, Band 34, 242 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 394 g

Reihe: Theory and Decision Library A:

Writing about sociocultural evolution is always a complicated enterprise, because the subject is not only difficult in a scientific way but also in a political one. In particular since the events of September 11, 2001 the debates about the differences between cultures and their evolutionary developments have left the fields of pure scientific research once and for all. However, there have probably never been scientific discourses that did not touch the realms of political discussions - Darwin, Marx, the atomic physicists and the recent debates about genetic engineering are just a few examples. The aim of this book is not to take part in these debates but it is written as a contribution to the foundations of evolutionary theories in the social sciences. The readers will have to judge if I have succeeded with it. Perhaps essays like this one will help to clarify the problems we all have to face just now in regard to intercultural discourses. Theoretically and mathematically grounded insights into cultural development as the source of many political problems will not solve to how to deal with them them immediately but may serve as signposts in the long run.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Klüver, Jürgen

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Kultursoziologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Vor- und Frühgeschichte, prähistorische Archäologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein Soziobiologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Sociocultural evolution: a concept and its difficulties.- 2. A theoretical model of sociocultural evolution.- 3. The mathematics of social processes.- 4. A mathematical model of sociocultural evolution.- 5. Conclusions: The logic of Evolution or are there something like historical laws?.- References.