Evolutionary Theory in the Social Sciences: Critical Concepts in the Social Sciences: Vol. 1

Description

Evolution Theory in the Social Sciences is the first collection of its kind to give a coherent historical account of the evolution of evolutionary thought and includes the most innovative and insightful works on the subject, from its very beginnings through to contemporary debates. The selections begin in the nineteenth century with Darwin and Malthus and then follows the variegated story of social evolutionary thought through to the beginning of the 21st Century, including key works by Marx, Veblen and Kropotkin as well as other less well known contributions. The collection includes a new general introduction along with more focused volume introductions by the editors. In addition, and unique to this collection, each of the 51 articles or book chapters included are introduced to the reader with a brief piece written specifically for this purpose by the volume editors. These introductions, alongside the lengthier volume introductions form a running commentary and help the reader place each work in its intellectual context. Complete with and extensive index, this collection will be an indispensable tool for students and researchers across the social sciences, in particular economics, sociology and political science. Volumes are arranged thematically as follows: Volume One (edited by William M. Dugger) focuses on foundations, including the early Malthusian bias, the Darwinian insight into the ubiquitous nature of change, the nature of institutions, human nature, and multilinear evolution. Kropotkin's emphasis on mutual aid as a factor of evolution is also included. Volume Two (edited by William M. Dugger) explores the nature of evolutionary theory itself, how it differs from equilibrium theory and from Panglossian apologies for the status quo. Volume Three (edited by Howard J. Sherman) presents Marxist views of revolutionary changes in society, including the debates on the origins of the family, changes in productive relations from one society to another, and the evolution of the state. Volume Four (edited by William M. Dugger) focuses on the views of the evolutionary economists (institutionalists) and presents an anti-Malthusian conclusion to the collection.