Human evolution beyond biology and culture : evolutionary social, environmental and policy sciences / Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2018.

xiii, 551 pages ; 26 cm

Both natural and cultural selection played an important role in shaping human evolution. Since cultural change can itself be regarded as evolutionary, a process of gene-culture coevolution is operative. The study of human evolution - in past, present and future - is therefore not restricted to biology. An inclusive comprehension of human evolution relies on integrating insights about cultural, economic and technological evolution with relevant elements of evolutionary biology. In addition, proximate causes and effects of cultures need to be added to the picture - issues which are at the forefront of social sciences like anthropology, economics, geography and innovation studies. This book highlights discussions on the many topics to which such generalised evolutionary thought has been applied: the arts, the brain, climate change, cooking, criminality, environmental problems, futurism, gender issues, group processes, humour, industrial dynamics, institutions, languages, medicine, music, psychology, public policy, religion, sex, sociality and sports.

ebook version :

English

January 28, 2019

Includes bibliographical references and index.