The Evolution of Cultural Entities

Ever since Darwin, scholars have noted that cultural entities such as languages, laws, firms and theories seem to 'evolve' through sequences of variation, selection and replication, in many ways just like living organisms. These essays consider whether this comparison is 'just a metaphor', or whether modern evolutionary theory can help us to understand the dynamics of different cultural domains.

The 'evolutionary paradigm of rationality' has a significant role to play throughout the human sciences, but raises complex issues in every cultural context where it is applied. By fostering discussion between scholars from a wide range of research traditions, this volume aims to influence the evolution of all of them.

Michael Wheeler is a Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Dundee. John Ziman is Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Bristol; Fellow of the Royal Society. Margaret Boden is at the University of Sussex.