Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id JAA10079 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 26 Sep 2001 09:51:21 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D030@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: book suggestion Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 15:55:11 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hiya everyone,
Just received a copy of Lee Cronk's 'That Complex Whole: Culture and the
Evolution of Human Behaviour' (1999, Westview Press, ISBN 0813337054)
Cronk appears to be a cultural anthropologist not aversed to views about the
origin of culture stemming from evolutionary theory, and is also pro-memes.
Flicking through his bit about memes just now he seems to partly offer a
cultural traits line, partly a mind virus line, partly a sexual selection
line. I'll need to read it more closely to work out his position.
Linking to the discussion about the cultural/natural position o f war, he
does have a couple of interesting things to say about war (p80). In
reference to the relationship between reproductive success and conformity to
cultural practices, he refers to the apparent nature of reproductive success
for male Yanomamo being related not to wealth or hunting skill (as it is for
some other tribes), but from fighting prowess- particularly if they've
killed others. He stresses that this doesn't make it a universal principle
for reproductive success, though.
I'm waiting on another book, that I think someone on the list recommended.
More on that when it arrives.
Vincent
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