© 2007 Alan S. Berger 1

Lenski’s description of social evolution is one theory Note that this is a social version of Darwin’s theory of evolution…

sometimes called social Darwinism One cause of social evolutions is the introduction of new technologies.

Examples: Early Agriculture

Predicting river floodsHoesThe plow

TransportationCanals

Food preservationCanning food in 1810

The Role of Napoleon in developing these technologies to improve war. Canning was important because there was no other alternative to storing

food on ice.

© 2007 Alan S. Berger 2

Mason JarsRefrigeratorsFrozen foods

Automobiles and other forms of TransportationSailing shipsSteam powered shipsIron clad ships

Penicillin and other drugsProcess continuing to this dayExtends to stem cell and genetic research

CommunicationTelegraphTelephone.Cell phone

Contemporary: personal computers, Internet

© 2007 Alan S. Berger 3

Examples of TechnologyExamples of Technology

Modern technology and the Need for Skilled Workers Craftsmen and apprentices Unions

Machines and Unemployment More or fewer skilled workers needed? Unemployment or change in careers

Railroads changing from coal to dieselBuggy whips to Automobiles

Luddites Marx Saw this as leading to conflict and

AlienationUltimately to revolution

© 2007 Alan S. Berger 4

Consequences of the Industrial RevolutionConsequences of the Industrial Revolution

Durkheim saw this as leading to AnomieAnd he commented upon the change from an organic form of

social solidarity to a mechanical form Also called a shift from communal to associational relationships

A functionalist analysis focuses on the ways that society achieves and remains in balance… in equilibrium Assumes that societies evolve from simpler to more complex Current views are that different societies may evolve along different

paths. Also that evolution is not always progress and industrialized societies are

not always better than traditional societies

© 2007 Alan S. Berger 5

Modernization TheoryAssumes that development into societies like the United

States , with similar attitudes and valuesThat industrialization is good

Conflict TheoryAssumes that Power is an essential element of all social

relationsCompetition for Power between conflicting groups leads to

conflict and revolution

© 2007 Alan S. Berger 6

IndividualsGandhiMartin Luther King

Revolution and War Population Pressures Cultural Processes

Innovation/discoveryDiffusionGlobalization

© 2007 Alan S. Berger 7