New Evolutionary Social Science: Human Nature, Social Behavior, and Social Change

by Niedenzu,Heinz-Jurgen

• ISBN13: 9781594513961
• ISBN10: 1594513961
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-06-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

For a long period of time, social scientists declared their autonomy from the life sciences, thereby neglecting important biological constraints on human nature. Many sociological theories suggest a nearly complete malleability of patterns of social life. Recently, however, Stephen K. Sanderson's 'œDarwinian conflict theory' set out to synthesize sociological theories with key findings from biology into an overarching scientific paradigm. Configuring and expanding this groundbreaking theory, the contributors to this volume are well-known European and American experts in evolutionary science. They develop in this book new bases for understanding social change and the world's future through a better integration of the life sciences and social sciences

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. vii
Prelude
Introduction: The New Evolutionary Social Science	p. 3
The Impact of Darwinism on Sociology: An Historical and Critical Overview	p. 9
Darwinian Conflict Theory and Its Critics
Social Evolution and Human Action: A Commentary on Sanderson's Darwinian Conflict Theory	p. 29
Metaphysical Materialism: Some Critical Remarks on Sanderson's The Evolution of Human Sociality	p. 42
Darwinian Conflict Theory: Alternative Theoretical Strategy or Unifying Paradigm for Contemporary Sociology?	p. 52
Some Reflections on Sanderson's Evolutionary Approaches	p. 62
Why Should Marvin Harris Meet Charles Darwin? A Reply to Sanderson's Critique of Cultural Materialism	p. 67
Cooperation Without Coercion? Responses to Sanderson's Conflict Perspective	p. 79
Darwinian Conflict Theory and Human Creativity	p. 89
Structuralism and Sociobiology: The Missing Link	p. 101
A Critical Appraisal of Sanderson's Darwinian Conflict Approach to Human Warfare	p. 111
The Rise of Modern Science and Technology: A Test Case of Sanderson's Evolutionary Model of Human Society	p. 122
Evolutionary Theory in Sociology: Diverse Applications
Emile Durkheim Versus Edward Westermarck: An Uneven Match	p. 135
What is "Baby Fever"? Contrasting Evolutionary Explanations of Proceptive Behavior	p. 147
Class Mobility, Environment, and Genes: A Darwinian Conflict Analysis	p. 159
The Two Transitions in the Evolution of Human Sociality	p. 172
Human Sociality, Communication, and Media: An Evolutionary Perspective	p. 182
Reflections and Final Thoughts
Darwinian Conflict Theory and Evolutionary Sociology: A Reply to Critics and Fellow Travelers	p. 197
References	p. 224
Index	p. 248
Contributors	p. 257
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