Selection as a Key Tool in Sociological Explanations

Abstract

For well over two decades, W. G. Runciman (1983-1997) has argued that needs to be a part of sociology. Inter estingly, some early twentieth century text books in American sociology had included chapters or sections of chapters on processes, but with decline of interest in evolution among sociologists for most of century, especially with rise of Social Darwinism, selectionist dynamics were pushed from discipline, as was biology more generally. Still, effects of on sociocultural processes were kept alive in such subdisciplies as urban and, later, organi zational ecology. In his recently published The Theory of Cultural and Social Selection, W. G. Runciman extends application of selec tionist theory beyond relatively narrow confines of urban and organizational ecolo gy, arguing that the agenda of comparative sociology should be reconstituted (p. 3) with a more Darwinian analysis of forces that have driven history. Runciman rejects extreme reductionism of ultra Darwinians who would reduce cultural and social to natural and notions of inclusive fitness, but still, cultural and social dynamics give evidence of clear analogies to natural selection. Runciman begins by outlining three types of selection: natural (on phenotypes and their underlying genotypes), cultural (on memes or strips of symbolic meanings), and social (on practices institutionalized in roles). Runciman retains a heavily Darwinian perspective, seeing competitive selection among alternative phenotypes, cultural memes, and social practices as increasing level of adapta tion, or reproduction of genes, memes, The Theory of Cultural and Social Selection, by W. G. Runciman. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 257pp. $27.99 paper. ISBN: 9780521136143.