Ecological-Evolutionary Theory: Principles and ApplicationsFor forty years, in a variety of books and articles, Gerhard Lenski has become the most influential proponent of ecological and evolutionary explanations of human societies, their development and transformations, from the Stone Age to the present. In his newest book, Lenski offers a succinct but comprehensive statement of the full body of his theory followed by demonstration of how it can be used to generate new and valuable insights when applied to a set of highly diverse issues. These include debates concerning the origin of ancient Israel and its distinctive culture, the rise of the West in the modern era, the highly varied trajectories of development of Third World nations in recent decades, and the failure of Marxist efforts to transform society in the Soviet Union and elsewhere. In the concluding chapter, Lenski discusses a number of other issues and areas where ecological-evolutionary theory may be fruitfully applied in the future. |
Contents
An Introduction | 3 |
Problem and Method | 13 |
The Biological Foundations of Human Societies | 33 |
Copyright | |
15 other sections not shown
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Ecological-Evolutionary Theory: Principles and Applications Gerhard Lenski No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptive agrarian societies analysis basic biblical biological biophysical environment century characteristics dependent differences ecological-evolutionary theory economic surplus elements elites especially Europe evidence evolution evolutionary theory evolutionism example explain Figure gathering societies genes genetic heritage global system greater herding societies human nature human populations human societies hunting and gathering ideology impact important increased indicates individual societies industrial societies industrializing agrarian societies industrializing horticultural societies inequality influence Israel kind Lenski limited Marvin Harris Marxist Marxist societies mode of subsistence modern Papua New Guinea patterns peasant revolt peasant revolt model perspective political population growth possible problems production recent relevant scholars sets of societies social and cultural social organization social sciences social scientists societal development sociocultural evolution sociocultural systems sociologists sociology subsistence technology substantial system of societies taxons technoeconomic heritage technological advance technological innovation tion urban variables world-system theory