Quantum Adjustment, Macroevolution, and the Social Field: Some Comments on Evolution and Culture [and Comments and Reply]

Abstract

Ever since the neo-Darwinian synthesis, stability models have dominated both ecology and population genetics. This has discouraged the biological study of progressive evolution. The introduction of biological models into cultural anthropology has been marked by an emphasis upon stability models as well, and progressive evolution in cultural systems has therefore not received adequate attention. Recent developments in the life sciences, however, have made progressive macroevolution a topic of great interest. In this paper, some biological ideas are used as "creative analogies" for cultural theory, taking the origin of Indian sacred-cattle practices as an example. Quantum behavior adjustments, macroevolutionary speciation events, and field sensitivity are three issues of interest to both biologists and cultural anthropologists.