Biological and cultural evolution some analogies and explorations

Abstract

Since Darwin there has been much discussion pro and con as to whether profitable analogies can be drawn between the evolution of species and the development of different kinds of primitive and advanced human societies. This question is reviewed in this article by an interdisciplinary team. It is suggested that orientations and methods which have been employed to investigate biological evolution might also be used in the study of the evolution of society or culture. Perhaps these will throw light on the theoretical problem of the similarities and differences in the two sorts of evolution. Experiments are suggested in which small groups work together on problems under special constraints of customs and languages dictated by the experimenters. In addition to this experimental approach to the study of different cultures, and normal and abnormal behavior in them, the historical method of comparing biological and social evolution is employed in an examination of language.

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