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Social Evolution

Social Evolution Social Sciences

Social Evolution

0 - Default Title
Description
The concept of social evolution in its modern form became widespread 250 years ago as part of the Enlightenment, and yet it still structures the thinking of academics, politicians and the public in a myriad ways. Hunter-gatherers become the repository of the natural or primitive; civilisation and 'our' history is deemed to begin with farming societies; and state societies are seen as the only gateway to social complexity. Through a historical and comparative review, this book challenges the idea that social evolution and the inevitability of progress is self-evident, and examines the connections of progressive social evolution with various ideologies and projects, from emancipation to racism, colonialism and imperialism and contemporary ideas of the new world order. Mark Pluciennik suggests that taking a critical stance allows other ways of thinking about and writing history to come into better focus, enabling us to ask different kinds of questions about the nature of change in human societies, and to treat social evolution in a more nuanced way.
Product details
Binding:
Paperback
Edition:
1
Number of Pages:
158
Release Date:
2005-05-27
Publication Date:
2005-05-27
Publisher:
Bloomsbury 3PL
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
0715632876
ISBN13:
9780715632871
Weight:
208 g
Height:
140 cm
Width:
216 cm
Thickness:
9 cm
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