
Biosocial Evolutionary Analysis
Reconciling Biology, Psychology and Sociology
Edward Elgar Publishing
Published on 19. January 2024
Book
Hardback
282 pages
978-1-0353-0999-3 (ISBN)
Description
This authoritative book proposes a methodological and theoretical strategy for developing sociological explanations of the socio-cultural universe. Jonathan H. Turner and Alexandra Maryanski discuss the problems that persist in explaining the socio-cultural universe using only biological and psychological approaches and outline new strategies for understanding the evolution of human beings and their biological nature.
Through exploring human evolution, human nature, human behaviours and patterns of social organisation, Turner and Maryanski demonstrate that evolutionary explanations of behaviours and patterns can be drawn from modern synthesis in biology. They also explain why certain dimensions of the socio-cultural universe can only be understood using purely sociological approaches to evolutionary analysis. They expertly analyse alternative biologically-based strategies for explaining the evolution of human beings and a purely sociological strategy for understanding the emergent properties of human socio-cultural formations.
Innovative in its approach, this timely book will be of great interest to scholars interested in the fields of science and technology studies, sociology and sociological theory, cultural sociology, social psychology, and social policy. It will also be highly beneficial to those looking to better understand the optimum methodological strategies for understanding the biology of human nature.
Through exploring human evolution, human nature, human behaviours and patterns of social organisation, Turner and Maryanski demonstrate that evolutionary explanations of behaviours and patterns can be drawn from modern synthesis in biology. They also explain why certain dimensions of the socio-cultural universe can only be understood using purely sociological approaches to evolutionary analysis. They expertly analyse alternative biologically-based strategies for explaining the evolution of human beings and a purely sociological strategy for understanding the emergent properties of human socio-cultural formations.
Innovative in its approach, this timely book will be of great interest to scholars interested in the fields of science and technology studies, sociology and sociological theory, cultural sociology, social psychology, and social policy. It will also be highly beneficial to those looking to better understand the optimum methodological strategies for understanding the biology of human nature.
Reviews / Votes
'This is Alexandra Maryanski's and Jonathan H. Turner's best effort yet in their long quest to try to help save biophobic sociologists from themselves. Darwin predicted that evolutionary thinking would "throw much light" on humanity's origin and history. Turner and Maryanski show exactly where, and how, to throw that light.' -- Richard S. Machalek, University of Wyoming, USMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-0999-3 (9781035309993)
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
Persons
Jonathan H. Turner, 38th University Professor, University of California, Distinguished Professor of the Graduate Division and Alexandra Maryanski, Research Professor of the Graduate Division, University of California, Riverside, US
Content
Contents:
Preface ix
1 On the origins of evolutionary analysis in biology and
sociology
2 Going back in time: the power of cladistic analysis
3 Comparative neuro-anatomy: evolution of the brain from
hominin to human
4 Decline and revival of evolutionary analysis in the social
sciences
5 Human behavioral complexes: the biology and sociology of
evolved humans
6 The emergence of the socio-cultural universe: disentangling
levels of reality
7 Fundamental differences between socio-cultural and
biological evolution
Bibliography
Index
Preface ix
1 On the origins of evolutionary analysis in biology and
sociology
2 Going back in time: the power of cladistic analysis
3 Comparative neuro-anatomy: evolution of the brain from
hominin to human
4 Decline and revival of evolutionary analysis in the social
sciences
5 Human behavioral complexes: the biology and sociology of
evolved humans
6 The emergence of the socio-cultural universe: disentangling
levels of reality
7 Fundamental differences between socio-cultural and
biological evolution
Bibliography
Index