Description

Title: Not by Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution
Author/Publisher: Peter J. Richerson, Robert Boyd; University of Chicago Press
Publication Year: 2004
Format: 342-page Illustrated Hardcover with Dust Jacket

Synopsys: Not By Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution' by Peter J. Richerson and Robert Boyd investigates the pivotal role of culture in human evolution. Drawing on advances in biology, anthropology, and psychology, the authors elaborate on how genetic and cultural evolution are interrelated. The book challenges traditional theories that emphasize only genetic selection in the evolution of our species and proposes that our ability to develop and transmit culture is as crucial to human evolution as our genetic predispositions. It argues that culture is not just a product of evolution, but an essential driver of it, shaping our intellect, adaptability and human nature itself.

Synopsis

In this seminal work, Peter J. Richerson and Robert Boyd present a compelling argument for the profound role of culture in shaping human evolution. Moving beyond purely genetic explanations, the authors propose that cultural transmission is a powerful evolutionary force, equal in significance to genetic inheritance.

The book challenges traditional views by demonstrating how human behaviour, societal structures, and learned traditions are not merely consequences of our biology but active participants in our species' development. It weaves together insights from psychology, anthropology, and evolutionary science to offer a comprehensive understanding of human origins.

• The Gene-Culture Coevolution: Richerson and Boyd introduce the concept of gene-culture coevolution, asserting that human genetic and cultural evolution are deeply intertwined and mutually influential processes that have shaped humanity over millennia.
• An Interdisciplinary Framework: The authors synthesise rigorous research from diverse fields including biology, anthropology, and psychology to construct a cohesive model that illustrates how cultural traits can drive and direct the trajectory of human evolutionary change.

This first edition, a pivotal work in sociobiology and evolutionary anthropology, is made particularly special by the inclusion of Robert Boyd's signature, making it a desirable acquisition for collectors and scholars alike.

Condition

This item has been professionally inspected and is in Good condition. Please refer to the photographs for detailed visual assessment.

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