sc02chap1

SANDERSON CHAPTER 1 - SOME "TRANSLATION"

Social change is studied differently by sociologists, historians, and anthropologists.

Evolutionary materialism -- a theoretical strategy (for explaining large scale social change).

Sanderson's "Propositions":

I.     There are regularities in history that can be explained causally (nomothetic approach),
        Stability and change are both part of these regularities,
        Social change is not teleological (progressing toward a given end, perfect society, etc.).

II.    Evolutionary processes occur at every level of social organization.
        Increasing complexity is a common result of evolution, but is not inevitable.
       There are both similarities and differences between social and biological evolution.
        Basic differences between social and biological evolution:
             a.   biological evolution leads in different directions, social evolution in similar directions.
             b.   biological evolution is based on random variations, social evolution is partly purposive.
             c.   a + b = social evolution leads to similar results (because problems are similar).
             d.   social evolution is much more rapid than biological evolution.
             e.   social evolution includes diffusion (culture passed from place to place, generation to generation).
             f.    natural selection is only part of the causal process of social evolution.

         Social evolution consists of processes different from biological evolution.
         Co-evolution is important but we don't understand it very well yet.
         Social evolution and individual development must be studied separately.

III. The main causal factors of social evolution are demographic, ecological, technological, and economic.
         Causal factors operate probabilistically - "A makes B more likely" (not "A always leads to B").
         These factors are primary because they relate to meeting basic human needs.
         Different patterns of social change occur because of different combinations of these factors.

IV.    Much of social evolution results from attempts at adaptation (individuals trying to meet their needs).
         Not all of these attempts work (or keep working). Adaptedness refers to those that work.
         Individuals are egoistic and this is important in understanding social evolution.

V.    Egoistic individuals create social structure and change but not necessarily as they intend.
         Egoistic individuals act partly in response to structures and changes that they have created.
         Egoistic individuals always act within the constraints of their biopsychology and the social structure.

VI.    The social structures created by individuals are the units of evolution.
         Social change is a response to a balance of endogenous and exogenous factors.
         Endogenous factors are those existing within a society.
         Exogenous factors are those that result from contact between different societies.

VII. Social evolution is sometimes slow (gradualist) and sometimes rather sudden (punctualist).
          Social evolution is faster and more punctualist now than in previous eras.

VIII. Evolutionary analysis is a form of historical analysis that must use theoretical analysis (synchronic data),
          but only until the speculative parts can be replaced by empirical studies (diachronic data).