Evolution: Cosmic, Biological, and Social

Front Cover
......Page 1
Title Page
......Page 2
Copyright
......Page 3
Contents......Page 4
Introduction Evolutionary Megaparadigms: Potential, Problems, Perspectives......Page 6
The Almanac’s Structure......Page 19
Bibliography......Page 26
Introduction......Page 31
Complexity and Cosmic History......Page 32
Three Fundamental Types of Complexity......Page 33
Energy Flows and Complexity......Page 35
The Big Bang and the Radiation Era......Page 36
The Matter Era......Page 37
Galaxy Formation......Page 39
Increasing Complexity of the Elementary Building Blocks......Page 40
Stars and Planets......Page 41
Why is the Earth Such a Good Place for Greater Complexity?......Page 42
Life and Energy......Page 43
The Emergence of Life......Page 44
Increasing Complexity......Page 45
Tapping New Energy Flows......Page 47
The Cambrian Explosion of Life......Page 48
Brainy Animals......Page 49
Culture and Energy......Page 50
The Emergence of Early Humans......Page 51
Fire Control......Page 52
The Domestication of Plants and Animals......Page 53
Early State Formation......Page 55
Globalization......Page 57
Industrialization......Page 58
The Increase in Energy Used by Humans......Page 61
Conclusions......Page 62
References......Page 64
Abstract......Page 66
The Сomparative Method in Astronomy......Page 67
The Comparative Method in Anthropology......Page 68
The Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram......Page 69
Stage and Process in Stellar Evolution......Page 70
Red Dwarfs and Villages: A Parallel......Page 72
The Forces of Fusion in Stars and Societies......Page 73
The Life History of Stars......Page 74
Unilinearity and Multilinearity......Page 75
Multilinearity in Stellar Evolution......Page 76
Underlying Processes of Stellar Evolution......Page 77
Societal Parallels......Page 78
The Comparison with Societies......Page 79
Primary and Secondary Stars and States......Page 80
Rates of Evolution......Page 81
Conclusion......Page 82
References......Page 83
Abstract......Page 84
Introduction......Page 85
The Supply-side Physics Approach......Page 86
The Supply-side Agent-based Models......Page 88
A New Demand-side Approach to Living Systems......Page 90
Overview......Page 92
Dynamic Pathways......Page 94
Strategic Selection – the Key to Selfcreation......Page 97
Strategic Struggle – the Real Nature of Competitive Interaction......Page 98
References......Page 99
Abstract......Page 101
Introduction......Page 102
The Possible Methodological Framework for the Future Evolutionary Biology......Page 103
The Nature of ‘Part-Whole’ Relations......Page 105
On Evolutionary Interdependence of Individuals and Species......Page 109
Evolutionary Assembly of Ecosystems......Page 110
How Selection has Made Ecosystems Converge......Page 114
What is Making Selection......Page 117
Concluding Remarks......Page 119
References......Page 120
Abstract......Page 122
1. The Paradox of Altruism......Page 123
2. The Main Evolutionary Concepts of Altruism in Animals......Page 126
3. A Harsh Environment for Pluralism in Animal Societies: Behavioural and Cognitive Specialisation......Page 129
4. Social Specialisation in Animal Communities......Page 137
5. Social Intelligence in Animals......Page 152
Conclusion......Page 155
References......Page 156
Abstract......Page 162
Introduction......Page 163
Biological and Social Aromorphoses......Page 165
The Rule of Aromorphosis......Page 174
Rules Connected with the Aromorphoses’ Characteristics......Page 176
Rules Connected with the Aromorphosis Formation Mechanism......Page 183
Rules Connected with Special Characteristics of Environment that is Necessary for the Aromorphoses' Emergence......Page 195
The Rule of ‘Payment’ for the Aromorphic Progress (Instead of a Conclusion)......Page 200
Abstract......Page 211
7 Social Evolution: Alternatives and Variations (Introduction)......Page 213
References......Page 232
Abstract......Page 251
8 Evolution of Nested Networks in the Prehistoric U.S. Southwest: A Comparative World-Systems Approach......Page 252
The Southwest......Page 256
The Plains......Page 262
The Great Basin......Page 263
California......Page 265
Interaction Nets over the Long Run......Page 266
References......Page 268
Abstract......Page 274
Introduction......Page 275
Organicism: Society as a Living System......Page 276
Encyclopedism: A Universal Knowledge Network......Page 278
Emergentism: A Higher Level of Consciousness......Page 281
Evolutionary Cybernetics: Towards an Integrated Theory......Page 283
Conclusion......Page 286
References......Page 287
Abstract......Page 290
Notes......Page 291
Contributors......Page 293
Back Cover
......Page 296