Critique of Unilinear Cultural Evolution Models

The drawbacks of
Unilinear Cultural
Evolution models
Howard Culbertson
Southern Nazarene University
Cultural Anthropology
Cultural evolution models
Assume that all cultures
developed along one
unilinear path
Line up all cultures on a
single development or
“success” scale
See cultures progressing
upward toward perfection
The picture in our minds
“Civilized”
“Civilized”
“Primitive”
L.H. Morgan, 1818-1881
Student of American
Indian cultures
A founder of
“anthropology” as
scientific field of
study
Morgan:  a child of his time
Morgan was contemporary
of biologist Charles Darwin
(1809-1882)
L.H. Morgan’s “Stages”
  Morgan saw all cultures
evolving through three
stages
Savagery
Barbarism
Civilization
Cultural evolution models
Every element of culture
moves from simple to
complex
From “primitive” (tribal) to
“civilized” (modern
Western)
Pyramid of human development
Higher civilization
Higher civilization
Civilization
Civilization
Lower civilization
Lower civilization
Higher barbarism
Higher barbarism
Barbarism
Barbarism
Lower barbarism
Lower barbarism
Higher savagery
Higher savagery
Savagery
Savagery
Lower savagery
Lower savagery
 
 
Drawback Number One
“Cultural evolution”
thought focuses on material
cultural products
Example: Morgan traced “evolution”
of dwellings
Questions for reflection
Is culture only -- or even
essentially -- technology
and material products?
What about worldviews?
What about language?
Drawback Number Two
Modern Western culture is
held up as the pinnacle of
cultural development
Analysis made from etic viewpoint
Ethnocentric issues
“They” are not very good
at what we are best at
By evaluating “them” on
what we are best at, we
miss what they handle
more competently than
we
Drawback Number Three
Cultural evolution models
lump together all societies
displaying certain
characteristics
Drawback Number Four
Cultural Evolution often
posits a progressive rise in
human rationality
Some cultures get labeled as “child-
like” and others as “mature” in their
thinking
Assumes primitive / developed
languages
Question for reflection
Paul Hiebert:  “Are modern
people really all that
logical? Did (or do) tribals
think in simplistic,
prelogical terms?”
This PowerPoint presentation is available along with related
This PowerPoint presentation is available along with related
materials and other PowerPoint presentations at
materials and other PowerPoint presentations at
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ppt.htm
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ppt.htm
 
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The drawbacks of unilinear cultural evolution models are explored, focusing on the assumption that all cultures follow a single linear path of development. Issues such as the emphasis on material culture, overlooking of other cultural aspects, and the ethnocentric perspective towards Western culture are discussed, challenging the notion of cultural progression as a linear evolution.


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  1. The drawbacks of Unilinear Cultural Evolution models Howard Culbertson Southern Nazarene University Cultural Anthropology

  2. Cultural evolution models Assume that all cultures developed along one unilinear path Line up all cultures on a single development or success scale See cultures progressing upward toward perfection

  3. The picture in our minds Civilized Primitive

  4. L.H. Morgan, 1818-1881 Student of American Indian cultures A founder of anthropology as scientific field of study

  5. Morgan: a child of his time Morgan was contemporary of biologist Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

  6. L.H. Morgans Stages Morgan saw all cultures evolving through three stages Savagery Barbarism Civilization

  7. Cultural evolution models Every element of culture moves from simple to complex From primitive (tribal) to civilized (modern Western)

  8. Pyramid of human development Higher civilization Civilization Lower civilization Higher barbarism Barbarism Lower barbarism Higher savagery Savagery Lower savagery

  9. Drawback Number One Cultural evolution thought focuses on material cultural products Example: Morgan traced evolution of dwellings

  10. Questions for reflection Is culture only -- or even essentially -- technology and material products? What about worldviews? What about language?

  11. Drawback Number Two Modern Western culture is held up as the pinnacle of cultural development Analysis made from etic viewpoint

  12. Ethnocentric issues They are not very good at what we are best at By evaluating them on what we are best at, we miss what they handle more competently than we

  13. Drawback Number Three Cultural evolution models lump together all societies displaying certain characteristics

  14. Drawback Number Four Cultural Evolution often posits a progressive rise in human rationality Some cultures get labeled as child- like and others as mature in their thinking Assumes primitive / developed languages

  15. Question for reflection Paul Hiebert: Are modern people really all that logical? Did (or do) tribals think in simplistic, prelogical terms?

  16. This PowerPoint presentation is available along with related materials and other PowerPoint presentations at http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ppt.htm

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