by Summary:
Here, "society" is being used as a metaphor rather than a description. I would prefer to use "system" rather than "society," and to compare biological systems with social systems, since this is more descriptive and less evocative. At the same time, I agree that the use of "society" is legitimate and useful in biology and evolutionary theory. There are three major types of systems, corresponding to the three major branches of science — physical, biological, and social. There are resemblances and important differences in these types of system. That said, the article is short and worth knowing about, since it indicates a rising trend in the field and evolutionary biology is exerting increasing influence on social, political, and economic thinking. So is the systems approach.
Topics:
Mike Norman considers the following as important: economics and biology, economics and evolutionary theory, systems approach
This could be interesting, too:
Here, "society" is being used as a metaphor rather than a description. I would prefer to use "system" rather than "society," and to compare biological systems with social systems, since this is more descriptive and less evocative. At the same time, I agree that the use of "society" is legitimate and useful in biology and evolutionary theory. There are three major types of systems, corresponding to the three major branches of science — physical, biological, and social. There are resemblances and important differences in these types of system. That said, the article is short and worth knowing about, since it indicates a rising trend in the field and evolutionary biology is exerting increasing influence on social, political, and economic thinking. So is the systems approach.
Topics:
Mike Norman considers the following as important: economics and biology, economics and evolutionary theory, systems approach
This could be interesting, too:
Mike Norman writes Ikonoclast — Mathematics and the constructions and emergent outcomes of socioeconomic phenomena
Mike Norman writes Evolving the New Economy: — David Sloan Wilson interviews Tim O’Reilly
Mike Norman writes How Hayek’s Evolutionary Theory Disproves His Politics — David Sloan Wilson interviews Sam Bowles
Mike Norman writes Benjamin Enke — The coevolution of kinship systems, cooperation, and culture
Here, "society" is being used as a metaphor rather than a description. I would prefer to use "system" rather than "society," and to compare biological systems with social systems, since this is more descriptive and less evocative. At the same time, I agree that the use of "society" is legitimate and useful in biology and evolutionary theory.
There are three major types of systems, corresponding to the three major branches of science — physical, biological, and social. There are resemblances and important differences in these types of system.
That said, the article is short and worth knowing about, since it indicates a rising trend in the field and evolutionary biology is exerting increasing influence on social, political, and economic thinking.
So is the systems approach. General Systems Theory was founded by biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy. Economist Kenneth Boulding switched from conventional economics to general systems theory.
OUPblog
Organisms as societies
Jonathan Birch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics and Political Science, specializing in the philosophy of evolutionary biology