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Agriculture and the energy-complexity spiral

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2016

Joseph A. Tainter
Joseph A. Tainter*
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322–5215. joseph.tainter@usu.eduhttps://qcnr.usu.edu/directory/tainter_joseph
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Abstract

The study of cultural complexity is entwined with ancestors myths from contemporary cosmology. Gowdy & Krall expose this mythology by arguing that complexity emerged from economic changes following cultivation. There is more, however, to the development of cultural complexity. Complexity can emerge from abundant energy or from addressing societal problems, which compels still further energy production.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 39 , 2016 , e115
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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