The Synergism Hypothesis: A Theory of Progressive EvolutionThis book represents a major theoretical synthesis between the life sciences and the social sciences. Peter Corning shows that the selective advantages arising from various kinds of cooperation - from single-celled creatures to wolf packs to modern nation-states - are the cause of the directional aspect of evolutionary history, that is, the progressive emergence of more complex, hierarchically organized systems in the biological , cultural, and political realms. The Synergism Hypothesis spans a vast intellectual and scientific territory and speaks to the central concerns of evolutionary biology, sociobiology, anthropology, psychology, economics, sociology, and political science. It is an extraordinary contribution, which should influence all future discussions of why we behave the way we do. -- from back cover. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
Quo Vadimus? | 1 |
The Evolutionary Framework | 16 |
A General Theory of Progressive Evolution | 63 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
actions activities adaptation American animal Anthropology approach aspects associated basic become behavior biological called causal cause changes co-operation co-operative communications complex concept consequences Continued cultural cybernetic Darwin decision dependent differentiation direct early Ecology economic effects emergence energy environment evidence evolution evolutionary evolved example existence explanation fact factors fitness forms functional genes genetic goals groups growth hierarchical human hunting important increased individual influences integrated interactions internal involves Journal language laws learning less living major means measure mechanisms natural selection needs occur organization Origin patterns physical political population positive Primate principle problem produced progressive reason recent relationship relative reproduction require responses result Review role Science significant social societies Sociobiology sociocultural species structure Study synergism synergistic teleonomic theoretical theorists theory tion University Press various Wilson York
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Synergism Hypothesis: A Theory of Progressive Evolution McGraw-Hill Paperbacks |
| Author | Peter A. Corning |
| Publisher | McGraw-Hill, 1983 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | Apr 7, 2011 |
| ISBN | 007013166X, 9780070131668 |
| Length | 492 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |