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 Studies in Applied Economics, Volume II by
Cover of the book Values and the Curriculum by
Cover of the book Women in Sport Leadership by
Cover of the book Engaging Pupil Voice to Ensure that Every Child Matters by
Cover of the book Making Anti-Racial Discrimination Law by
Cover of the book Children and Society by
Cover of the book Corporate Public Relations by
Cover of the book Goethe's Poetry and the Philosophy of Nature by
Cover of the book The Schooling of Working-Class Girls in Victorian Scotland by
Cover of the book An Economic History of the British Isles by
Cover of the book Cyberpower by
Cover of the book Mistaking Africa by
Cover of the book Educational Binds of Poverty by
Cover of the book Qualitative Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health by
Cover of the book Supervision of Dance Movement Psychotherapy 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