General evolution and specific evolution by E.R Services and Marshall David Shalins.
Introduction
Sahlins and Services are the students of Julian Steward and Lessly White. They presented their theories as confirm to Universal evolution and Multilinear evolution. According to them evolution has a dual character. Firstly it was stage by stage and generates progress in which lower forms gives rise to higher forms and higher forms surpass the lower forms. Secondly, it creates diversity as result of adaptation under modification. Thus, both recognized the differences between divergence and progress. In fact Shalins and Services got the idea from Tylor’s book primitive culture, Tylor laid out the study of cultural evolution both stage by stage as well as along its main lines. Shalini and Services emphasized that when evolution preceded the main line it reveals general evolution. When it shows divergence or sidelines it reveals specific evolution. The general evolution can be equated with the universal evolution and the the specific evolution can be equated with the multilinear evolution.
Biosocial approach
Sahlins and Services adopted two approaches in order to analyse the general as well as specific evolution . Firstly , they adopted the energy theory of Leslie White and the ecological approach of Steward . Secondly, they used the biological approach of organic evolutionists . General evolution understood as Food gathering gives rise to horticulture to agriculture to industrial society. but If we speak about a particular society then it is specific. Example eskimos in tundra are also food gatherers. But they gather fish and they would have adapted themselves to the environment. Thus biological adaptation. For cultural adaptation they eat meat and live in Igloos. In Kalahari Bushmen are also food gatherers. Women gather moongongo fruits. They pickup shells. They have plenty of food but shortage of water. They use the shells to store water. In Australia, Arunta they don’t have nutritional deficiency as they eat everything. Food gatherers in Surinam suffers from nutritional deficiency. Today in Philippines they don’t suffer any nutritional deficiency. Thus general evolution generates progress.
General Evolution(Biological)
- Homo Habilis – 600 – 750 c.c
- Homo Erectus – 650 c.c
- Neanderthal – 1100 – 1350 c.c
- Homo Sapiens – 1450 c.c
As there is use in brain capacity, there is increase in technology then increase energy is harnessed. hence humans were able to create more complex cultures. In civilization stage they used atomic, coal etc as energy. By applying energy theory to evolution progress can be understood. At the same time cultural ecological approach can also be used. Food gathering to food producer to Horticulture to agriculture to industry. This is General Cultural evolution.
Specific biological evolution
White population the best is upward, block is more melanin, tale abs lanky , sweat more , people at high altitude work pattern is hill, lungs are inflated to store oxygen. They lack carbohydrates but protein is lesser suffer from marasmus.
Environmental pessibilism (Only influences and not determines)
Illustration
Examination of human evolution reveals the progress of humans in terms of their biological makeup and cultural patterns of life. There were Australopithecines they gave rise to Home Habilies to Homo Erectus , the Neanderthals descended from Homo Erectus. Then there appeared cromognan man. At the same time it also reveals the specific biological evolution. For example Erectus lived in Africa ,Europe china , Java other places in Asia. Each population of Homo Erectus adapted to a particular kind of environment. The differential adaptations of the populations of the same species in diverse environment speaks of specific evolution. It reveals diversity amongst the Homo Erectus population. Like wise the population of other species shows specific adaptation to their respect to environment highlighting the specific evolution.
Similar trends occurred in cultural evolution. Homo Habilies and Homo Erectus were designers of lower paleolithic culture. The Neanderthals were the architect of middle paleolithic culture. the cromagnan man has innovators of upper paleolithic culture. Later cromagnan continued to exist and created Mesolithic, Neolithic , Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron age culture in succession reaching the peak of cultural progress. In other words the cultural progression from the beginning till the end of Mesolithic reveals savage. The emergence of Neolithic reveals beginning of barbarism the appearance of alphabet and writing emergence of Civilization. All this speaks stage by stage culture. At every stage humans improved their social and cultural way of life. Further during savagery they used only muscle energy and fire energy. In barbarism they used animal energy for harnessing more and more energy. And an organisational capabilities such as networks of kinship, economic, political systems and religious complexes. As they moved into civilization , they were able to harness atomic energy , thermal energy, fuel energy etc.. Thus, All this speaks of general cultural evolution.
Specific cultural evolution cannot be separated from general evolution. Specific cultural evolution reveals particular adaptations of specific societies with in a general category. The specific categories includes as Eskimos living in Tundra, Ituri living in the forest of Central Congo, the Bushmen living in Kalahari Desert , Arunta living in Central desert of Australia. All these no doubt comes under the category of food gatherers but each has its own way of cultural adapting to tips on environment. This speaks of specific adaptations or specific evolution. This was actually creating diversity within the general category.
Differences between general evolution and specific evolution
The above discussion reveals simultaneous existence of general evolution which is the same as universal evolution and the specific evolution highlights Stewards multilinear evolution. General evolution or Universal evolution pertains to whole human population and its culture. Specific evolution pertains to a particular part of human society. General evolution creates progress but specific evolution creates diversity. General evolution shows stage by stage development but Specific evolution reveals lines of descent. Thus , Sahilns and Services with the help of innovative approach affected a compromise between their own theories and the theories proposed by their teachers Steward and White.
Summary:
- General evolution: stage by stage, generates progress, morphologically different can adapt to any kind of environment, applies to whole population.
- Specific evolution: line of descent, generates diversity , morphologically similar only to specific environment. Applies to particular population.