Cultural Selection [Hardcover]

A. Fog (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0792355792 | ISBN-13: 978-0792355793 | Publication Date: February 28, 1999 | Edition: 1st

This book provides an interdisciplinary theory that challenges traditional sociology by its superior ability to explain the irrational or unplanned aspects of culture, and it reveals that our society is not as rational as we would like to believe. The reader receives a comprehensive overview of cultural selection theory, including the history of the theory and the many different schools of thought, as well as an explanation of the nuts and bolts of cultural selection and the different selection mechanisms. Furthermore, the author introduces the new paradigm-breaking cultural r/k theory - a theory which reveals causal connections between religion, politics, ethics, art, and sexual behavior; and which can explain such diverse phenomena as the fall of Rome, the advent of rock music in the late Soviet Union, and the anti-pornography movement in contemporary USA. The attraction of this theory lies in its impressive explanatory power and its usefulness for making predictions. Unlike some elaborate mathematical treatises, this book maintains a down-to-earth theory with the main focus on the explanation of real world phenomena, including religion, politics, music, art, architecture, clothing fashion, sexual behavior, sport, and play. It thereby provides a solid foundation on which to base further research in many areas of human culture, including anthropology, archaeology, political and religious history, art, social psychology, sexology, peace research and futurology.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 332 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st edition (February 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792355792
• ISBN-13: 978-0792355793
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,538,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new way of looking at cultures, December 2, 2000

By 

Dennis P. (Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cultural Selection (Hardcover)

This book explains cultural selection theory in a very straightforward and concise way that bridges the gap between biology and sociology. It starts with an interesting historical chapter which traces primitive versions of cultural selection theory all the way back to Darwin. Next comes a very comprehensive overview of selection mechanisms and an explanation of the new so-called r/k theory. The rest of the book is filled with an impressive tour through the possible applications of the author's theory to political history, religion, art, mass media, sexual behavior, sport, and many other areas of cultural history. The author obviously has insight in many different sciences. I would have liked a more convincing proof of the new cultural r/k theory. Otherwise the book is quite well-documented.