Evolution and Social LifeCUP Archive, 1986 - 431 pages The concept of evolution is central in anthropology, although the meaning of the term is open to debate. This book examines the ways in which the idea of evolution has been handled in anthropology from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, and by comparing biological, historical, and anthropological approaches to the study of human culture and social life, it lays the foundation for their effective synthesis. Unique in its scope and breadth of theoretical vision, and cutting across the boundaries of natural science and the humanities, it is a major contribution both to the history of anthropological and social thought, and to the contemporary debate on the relationship between human nature, culture, and social life. |
Contents
The progress of evolution | 1 |
Mankind ascending | 29 |
The substance of history | 74 |
Times of life | 128 |
Chance necessity and creativity | 173 |
What is a social relationship? | 222 |
Culture and consciousness | 293 |
Notes | 377 |
| 399 | |
| 419 | |
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Common terms and phrases
action adaptation advance altruism analogy animals anthropology appears argument artefacts behaviour Bergson Bidney biological Boas Boas's Boasian chapter Collingwood component conceived conception conduct consciousness constituted construction continuous contrast corresponds course creative creative movement cultural anthropology cultural evolution culture Darwin Darwinian descent dichotomy distinction Dobzhansky Durkheim elements entity environment evolution evolutionary execution existence forms genes genetic Hence holism human idea individual Ingold intentionality interaction intersubjective irreversible kind Kroeber Lamarckian language latter Lévi-Strauss living London Marx material means mechanism ment mind moral movement natural selection notion object organic origin origin of species particular person populations present prior intention production progress purpose Radcliffe-Brown reality regarded Sahlins Saussure sense sequence simply social anthropology social relations society sociobiology speaking species Spencer Spencerian structure superorganic synchronic teleology theory things thought tion tradition Tylor unique University Press vidual whereas words