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Generative entrenchment and an evolutionary developmental biology for culture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2006

William C. Wimsatt*
Affiliation:
Philosophy and Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637

Abstract:

Mesoudi et al.'s new synthesis for cultural evolution closely parallels the evolutionary synthesis of Neo-Darwinism. It too draws inspiration from population genetics, recruits other fields, and, unfortunately, also ignores development. Enculturation involves many serially acquired skills and dependencies that allow us to build a rich cumulative culture. The newer synthesis, evolutionary developmental biology, provides a key tool, generative entrenchment, to analyze them.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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