Paper Summary:

This paper ananlyzes the hypotheses presented in Robert Boyd and Peter Richerson's seminal work "Culture and the Evolutionary Process." The reviewer considers assumptions presented in the book which underline the relationship between science and culture in promoting human evolution. The paper also shows links between Boyd and Richardson and earlier research in the field. The reviewer concludes that the discussions and analyses in "Culture and the Evolutionary Process" uncovers explanations and generates further understanding of how humans and human society came about, and continues to develop in the present.

From the Paper:

"Boyd and Richerson provide two general assumptions that lead to their hypothesis, which posits that science and culture significantly influence each other in understanding the human evolutionary process. In the words of the authors, "process-oriented "scientific" analyses help us understand how history works, and "historical" data are essential to test scientific hypotheses about how populations and societies change" "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Acerbi, A. (2006). "Cultural transmission between and within generations." Journal of Artificial Societies & Social Stimulation, Vol. 9, Issue 1.
• Blackmore, S. (2006). "Memetics by another name?" Bioscience, Vol. 56, Issue 1.
• Boyd, R. and P. Richerson. (1988). "How Microevolutionary Processes Give Rise to History." In Culture and the Evolutionary Process. In History and Evolution. M. Nitecki (Ed.). NY: University of New York Press.
• Hanson, F. (2005). "Culture against society." Society, Vol. 42, Issue 5.
• Walker, C. E. (2003). "Human aggression: theories, research, and implications for social policy." Journal of Psychiatry & Law, Vol. 31, Issue 3.

Visitors who viewed this Book Review also liked these:

• Analytical Essay # 146727 : "The End of History?"
• Term Paper # 103653 : "Mass Media and Semiotics"
• Research Paper # 62008 : "The Credit Card Industry"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: