Social Revolution

Authors: Jonathan Birch

Publish Date: 2011/12/21

Volume: 27, Issue: 4, Pages: 571-581

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Abstract

Andrew Bourke’s Principles of Social Evolution identifies three stages that characterize an evolutionary transition in individuality and deploys inclusive fitness theory to explain each stage The third stage social group transformation has hitherto received relatively little attention from inclusive fitness theorists In this review I first discuss Bourke’s “virtual dominance” hypothesis for the evolution of the germ line I then contrast Bourke’s inclusive fitness approach to the major transitions with the multilevel approach developed by Richard Michod Samir Okasha and others I suggest that rather than choosing between these approaches we should exploit the strengths of both Finally I stress the need for a firmer conceptual grasp of the nature of social group transformationI thank Andrew Bourke Kevin Brosnan Ellen Clarke Matt Herron Philippe Huneman Rufus Johnstone Tim Lewens Samir Okasha Paul Ryan and Joeri Witteveen for discussion of these and related issues This work was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council

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