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On natural experiments in social evolution : The case of Oceania

Contenu

Type de document

article de périodique

Titre

On natural experiments in social evolution : The case of Oceania

Revue/Ouvrage

Cultural Dynamics

Volume-no

Vol.4

Auteurs/Editeurs scientifiques

Antweiler, Christoph

Nombre de pages

14

Date de publication

1991

Pagination

158-171

Langue

ang

ISBN/ISSN

0921-3740

Résumé

This paper reexamines M. Mead's suggestion that Oceania is peculiarly suitable for natural experiments in cultural evolution. It is concluded that Oceania, especially Polynesia, provides a paradigmatic case for several factors in social evolution. The conditions that make the region suitable for experiments are discussed, and a number of hypotheses are suggested that are apt for examination in this context.