Sociocultural evolution
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 12:02, 19 August 2007 WikiSysop (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 12:02, 19 August 2007 WikiSysop (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| + | '''Sociocultural evolution(ism)''' is an umbrella term for theories of '''cultural evolution''' and '''social evolution''', describing how [[culture]]s and [[society|societies]] have developed over time. Although such theories typically provide models for understanding the relationship between [[technology|technologies]], [[social structure]], the [[values]] of a [[society]], and how and why they change with [[time]], they vary as to the extent to which they describe specific mechanisms of [[variation]] and [[social change]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Most 19th century and some 20th century approaches aimed to provide models for the evolution of [[humankind]] as a whole, arguing that different societies are at different stages of [[social development]]. At present this thread is continued to some extent within the [[World systems theory|World System]] approach (especially within its version produced by [[Andre Gunder Frank]]). Many of the more recent 20th-century approaches focus on changes specific to individual societies and reject the idea of directional change, or [[social progress]]. Most [[Archaeology|archaeologists]] and [[cultural anthropology|cultural anthropologists]] work within the framework of modern theories of sociocultural evolution. Modern approaches to sociocultural evolution include [[neoevolutionism]], [[sociobiology]], theory of modernization and [[theory of post-industrial society|theory of postindustrial society]]. | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 12:02, 19 August 2007
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Sociocultural evolution(ism) is an umbrella term for theories of cultural evolution and social evolution, describing how cultures and societies have developed over time. Although such theories typically provide models for understanding the relationship between technologies, social structure, the values of a society, and how and why they change with time, they vary as to the extent to which they describe specific mechanisms of variation and social change.
Most 19th century and some 20th century approaches aimed to provide models for the evolution of humankind as a whole, arguing that different societies are at different stages of social development. At present this thread is continued to some extent within the World System approach (especially within its version produced by Andre Gunder Frank). Many of the more recent 20th-century approaches focus on changes specific to individual societies and reject the idea of directional change, or social progress. Most archaeologists and cultural anthropologists work within the framework of modern theories of sociocultural evolution. Modern approaches to sociocultural evolution include neoevolutionism, sociobiology, theory of modernization and theory of postindustrial society.
