Nonlinear Thermodynamics and Social Science Modeling: Fad Cycles, Cultural Development and Identificational Slips

Abstract

AbstractThe paper argues that the application of nonlinear dynamics borrowed from thermodynamics for the study of the evolution of institutions amounts to an identificational slip. While the paper welcomes the importation of techniques from the natural sciences, thermodynamic feedback is simply an inappropriate technique for the study of evolutionary change. Thermodynamic feedback is only appropriate for the study of social dynamics like mob behavior, stock market gyrations, and fad cycles. One should rather appeal to the evolution of species‐as recorded by change of gene frequency and phenotypic traits—as the appropriate metaphor for the study of evolution of culture—as manifested by change of rules and principles and their consequent order.