
On Social Evolution
Phenomenon and Paradigm
Shiping Tang(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 10. March 2020
Book
Hardback
252 pages
978-0-367-43626-1 (ISBN)
Description
Tang provides a coherent and systematic exploration of social evolution as a phenomenon and as a paradigm. He critically builds on existing discussions on social evolution, while drawing from a wide range of disciplines, including archaeology, evolutionary anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, the philosophy of social sciences, and evolutionary biology.
Clarifying the relationship between biological evolution and social evolution, Tang lays bare the ontological and epistemological principles of the social evolutionary paradigm. He also presents operational principles and tools for deploying this paradigm to understand empirical puzzles about human society.
This is a vital resource for students, practitioners, and philosophers of all social sciences.
Clarifying the relationship between biological evolution and social evolution, Tang lays bare the ontological and epistemological principles of the social evolutionary paradigm. He also presents operational principles and tools for deploying this paradigm to understand empirical puzzles about human society.
This is a vital resource for students, practitioners, and philosophers of all social sciences.
Reviews / Votes
'Shiping Tang's insightful and critical review of the previous evolutionary arguments in the social sciences is a must read for scholars interested in going beyond generalized Darwinism and moving toward adopting "generalized evolutionism." His focus on niche construction and human agency in reshaping environments represents a major contribution to the study of social evolution.' - Howard E. Aldrich, Kenan Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA'For much too long social science has neglected evolutionary theories, which are both powerful and appropriate to many of our puzzles. In a systematic treatment that is both nuanced and stimulating, Shiping Tang puts the evolutionary approach through its paces and shows how selection, variance, and inheritance operate to explain both macro and micro social developments.' - Robert Jervis, Aldai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics, Columbia University, and author of System Effects: Complexity in Political and Social Life.
'Deeply researched and powerfully argued, On Social Evolution posits that evolutionism triumphs over all other explanations of the natural and the social world. Shiping Tang has succeeded marvelously in developing and defending theoretically this bold claim. All of us should read and wrestle with this challenging and outstanding book.' - Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter, Jr. Professor of International Studies, Cornell University, USA "Shiping Tang's insightful and critical review of the previous evolutionary arguments in the social sciences is a must read for scholars interested in going beyond generalized Darwinism and moving toward adopting 'generalized evolutionism.' His focus on niche construction and human agency in reshaping environments represents a major contribution to the study of social evolution."
Howard E. Aldrich, Kenan Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
"For much too long social science has neglected evolutionary theories, which are both powerful and appropriate to many of our puzzles. In a systematic treatment that is both nuanced and stimulating, Shiping Tang puts the evolutionary approach through its paces and shows how selection, variance, and inheritance operate to explain both macro and micro social developments."
Robert Jervis, Aldai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics, Columbia University, and author of System Effects: Complexity in Political and Social Life.
"Deeply researched and powerfully argued, On Social Evolution posits that evolutionism triumphs over all other explanations of the natural and the social world. Shiping Tang has succeeded marvelously in developing and defending theoretically this bold claim. All of us should read and wrestle with this challenging and outstanding book."
Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter, Jr. Professor of International Studies, Cornell University, USA
"To conclude, Tang's endeavour is valuable insofar as his in-depth knowledge of biology and social sciences has led him to put forward a theoretical proposal about social evolution as a phenomenon and as a paradigm that is compelling and that had not been properly formulated hitherto. The book should give many social scientists pause to evolutionary approaches. It convincingly shows that social scientists should not throw the baby out with the bathwater: despite misleading applications, evolutionary insights can be successfully used for grasping many aspects of human societies." - Alexandre Tawil, Oeconomia
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
2 s/w Abbildungen, 2 s/w Zeichnungen, 11 s/w Tabellen
11 Tables, black and white; 2 Line drawings, black and white; 2 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
561 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-43626-1 (9780367436261)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
03/2020
1st Edition
Routledge
€63.40
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
02/2020
1st Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download

E-Book
02/2020
1st Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
Person
Shiping Tang is Fudan Distinguished Professor and Dr. Seaker Chan Chair Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, China. He also holds a "Chang-Jiang/Cheung Kong Scholar" Distinguished Professorship from the Chinese Ministry of Education. His earlier book, The Social Evolution of International Politics (2013), received the International Studies Association's "Annual Best Book Award" in 2015.
Content
Preface Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Biological Evolution: From Basics to Extended Synthesis Chapter 3. Social Evolution as a Phenomenon Chapter 4. The Social Evolution Paradigm Chapter 5. A Critique of Existing Evolutionary Social Sciences Chapter 6. What Social Evolution Paradigm can Do Chapter 7. In Lieu of Conclusion: The Power of SEP Appendix A. What Haven't Social Sciences been more evolutionary? Appendix B. Geno-social sciences as Sociobiology Redux References Index