The Evolution of Cultural Diversity

A Phylogenetic Approach

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Archaeology
Cover of the book The Evolution of Cultural Diversity by , Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9781315418599
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: September 16, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9781315418599
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: September 16, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Virtually all aspects of human behavior show enormous variation both within and between cultural groups, including material culture, social organization and language. Thousands of distinct cultural groups exist: about 6,000 languages are spoken today, and it is thought that a far greater number of languages existed in the past but became extinct. Using a Darwinian approach, this book seeks to explain this rich cultural variation. There are a number of theoretical reasons to believe that cultural diversification might be tree-like, that is phylogenetic: material and non-material culture is clearly inherited by descendants, there is descent with modification, and languages appear to be hierarchically related. There are also a number of theoretical reasons to believe that cultural evolution is not tree-like: cultural inheritance is not Mendelian and can indeed be vertical, horizontal or oblique, evidence of borrowing abounds, cultures are not necessarily biological populations and can be transient and complex. Here, for the first time, this title tackles these questions of cultural evolution empirically and quantitatively, using a range of case studies from Africa, the Pacific, Europe, Asia and America. A range of powerful theoretical tools developed in evolutionary biology is used to test detailed hypotheses about historical patterns and adaptive functions in cultural evolution. Evidence is amassed from archaeological, linguist and cultural datasets, from both recent and historical or pre-historical time periods. A unifying theme is that the phylogenetic approach is a useful and powerful framework, both for describing the evolutionary history of these traits, and also for testing adaptive hypotheses about their evolution and co-evolution. Contributors include archaeologists, anthropologists, evolutionary biologists and linguists, and this book will be of great interest to all those involved in these areas.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Virtually all aspects of human behavior show enormous variation both within and between cultural groups, including material culture, social organization and language. Thousands of distinct cultural groups exist: about 6,000 languages are spoken today, and it is thought that a far greater number of languages existed in the past but became extinct. Using a Darwinian approach, this book seeks to explain this rich cultural variation. There are a number of theoretical reasons to believe that cultural diversification might be tree-like, that is phylogenetic: material and non-material culture is clearly inherited by descendants, there is descent with modification, and languages appear to be hierarchically related. There are also a number of theoretical reasons to believe that cultural evolution is not tree-like: cultural inheritance is not Mendelian and can indeed be vertical, horizontal or oblique, evidence of borrowing abounds, cultures are not necessarily biological populations and can be transient and complex. Here, for the first time, this title tackles these questions of cultural evolution empirically and quantitatively, using a range of case studies from Africa, the Pacific, Europe, Asia and America. A range of powerful theoretical tools developed in evolutionary biology is used to test detailed hypotheses about historical patterns and adaptive functions in cultural evolution. Evidence is amassed from archaeological, linguist and cultural datasets, from both recent and historical or pre-historical time periods. A unifying theme is that the phylogenetic approach is a useful and powerful framework, both for describing the evolutionary history of these traits, and also for testing adaptive hypotheses about their evolution and co-evolution. Contributors include archaeologists, anthropologists, evolutionary biologists and linguists, and this book will be of great interest to all those involved in these areas.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Researching Trust and Health by
Cover of the book Beyond the National Curriculum by
Cover of the book Food in Shakespeare by
Cover of the book Greek Literature and Philosophy by
Cover of the book Behaviour Problems in Young Children by
Cover of the book Corporate Media Production by
Cover of the book Process Facilitation in Psychoanalysis, Psychotherapy and Social Work by
Cover of the book Conflicts in the Middle East since 1945 by
Cover of the book Intentional Innovation by
Cover of the book Mass Media, An Aging Population, and the Baby Boomers by
Cover of the book Evidence and Explanation in Social Science by
Cover of the book Exile and Nomadism in French and Hispanic Women's Writing by
Cover of the book Mobilizing Hospitality by
Cover of the book Percy Bysshe Shelley by
Cover of the book Basic Processes in Early Second Language Reading by
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy