Inference in Social Evolution Theory: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 84-97
Author(s):  
John A. Byers ◽  
Marc Bekoff
Keyword(s):  
Social Evolution ◽  
Evolution Theory

scholarly journals The Social Evolution of Language, and the Language of Social Evolution

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 147470490700500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Scott-Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Social Evolution ◽  
Language Evolution ◽  
Reciprocal Altruism ◽  
Honest Signaling ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Evolution Of Language ◽  
The Social ◽  
Human Capacity ◽  
Correct Application

Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in the evolution of the human capacity for language. Such a project is necessarily interdisciplinary. However, that interdisciplinarity brings with it a risk: terms with a technical meaning in their own field are used wrongly or too loosely by those from other backgrounds. Unfortunately, this risk has been realized in the case of language evolution, where many of the terms of social evolution theory (reciprocal altruism, honest signaling, etc.) are incorrectly used in a way that suggests that certain key fundamentals have been misunderstood. In particular the distinction between proximate and ultimate explanations is often lost, with the result that several claims made by those interested in language evolution are epistemically incoherent. However, the correct application of social evolution theory provides simple, clear explanations of why language most likely evolved and how the signals used in language — words — remain cheap yet arbitrary.

Evidence, Other Approaches, and Further Topics

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A.R. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Social Evolution ◽  
Inclusive Fitness ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Replicator Dynamics ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Price Equation ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Inclusive Fitness Theory ◽  
The Many

This book has examined the genesis, the logic, and the generality of social evolution theory. In particular, it has presented evolutionary explanations of the many social behaviors we observe in the natural world by showing that William D. Hamilton's inclusive fitness theory provides the necessary generalization of classical Darwin–Wallace–Fisher fitness. This concluding chapter discusses the limitations of the analyses presented in this book and assesses the empirical support for inclusive fitness theory, focusing on microbial altruism, help in cooperative breeders, reproductive restraint in eusocial species, and the evolution of eusociality and cooperative breeding. It also considers more advanced topics in social evolution theory, including sex allocation, genetic kin recognition, spite, and the evolution of organismality. Finally, it reviews theoretical approaches to studying social evolution other than replicator dynamics and the Price equation, such as population genetics, class-structured populations, and maximization approaches.

scholarly journals Social Bacteriophages

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 533
Author(s):  
Pilar Domingo-Calap ◽  
Lucas Mora-Quilis ◽  
Rafael Sanjuán
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Superinfection Exclusion ◽  
Key Population ◽  
Viral Product ◽  
Host Exploitation

Despite their simplicity, viruses can display social-like interactions such as cooperation, communication, and cheating. Focusing on bacteriophages, here we review features including viral product sharing, cooperative evasion of antiviral defenses, prudent host exploitation, superinfection exclusion, and inter-phage peptide-mediated signaling. We argue that, in order to achieve a better understanding of these processes, their mechanisms of action need to be considered in the context of social evolution theory, paying special attention to key population-level factors such as genetic relatedness and spatial structure.

scholarly journals The Relation between Multilocus Population Genetics and Social Evolution Theory

2007 ◽  
Vol 169 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Gardner ◽  
Stuart A. West ◽  
Nicholas H. Barton
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Evolution Theory

scholarly journals Diferensiasi Metode Penentuan Awal Bulan Hijriyah: Kajian Perspektif Teori Evolusi Sosial Herbert Spencer

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 166
Author(s):  
M Basthoni
Keyword(s):  
Social Evolution ◽  
Natural Process ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Cultural Comparison ◽  
Normative Approach ◽  
Herbert Spencer ◽  
Comparison Approach ◽  
Differences Of Opinion ◽  
Differentiation Stage ◽  
Integration Stage

THE -- method  of determining the beginning of the month of Hijrah is constantly differentiated. Several approaches have been made by experts to understand the phenomenon, both the socio-cultural comparison approach between the conditions of the Prophet Muhammad's time and the current conditions as well as the astronomical-normative approach to verses that have been the root of these differences of opinion. In contrast to previous studies, this paper tries to find the pattern of the differentiation phenomenon and the background of the occurrence with the perspective of Social Evolution Theory proposed by Herbert Spencer. This study shows that the phenomenon of differentiation is a natural process that sequentially follows the following patterns and stages. (1) the stage of increasing the size, (2) the stage of the complexification, (3) the differentiation stage, and (4) the integration stage.

scholarly journals Cheating in the Viral World

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asher Leeks ◽  
Melanie Ghoul ◽  
Stuart West
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Viral Evolution ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Cooperative Behaviour ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Different Types

The extent to which cheating occurs in the natural world has proved contentious. We suggest that viruses offer an exceptional opportunity for studying cheats, individuals that exploit the cooperative behaviour of others. In particular, we show that: (1) cheating is common in viruses; (2) there are many different types of viral cheat; (3) viral cheats offer novel problems for social evolution theory; (4) viruses offer excellent empirical opportunities for studying cheating; (5) cheating shows that viral populations experience substantial conflict, changing how we think about how viral infections evolve; (6) evolutionary theory about cheating could help us understand viral evolution; (7) a greater understanding of cheating in viruses could aid viral intervention strategies.

scholarly journals Inhibiting bacterial cooperation is an evolutionarily robust anti-biofilm strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Dieltjens ◽  
Kenny Appermans ◽  
Maries Lissens ◽  
Bram Lories ◽  
Wook Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Resistant Strain ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Cell Attachment ◽  
Susceptible Strain ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Viable Solution ◽  
Evolution Of Resistance ◽  
Inhibitor Treatment

AbstractBacteria commonly form dense biofilms encased in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Biofilms are often extremely tolerant to antimicrobials but their reliance on shared EPS may also be a weakness as social evolution theory predicts that inhibiting shared traits can select against resistance. Here we show that EPS of Salmonella biofilms is a cooperative trait whose benefit is shared among cells, and that EPS inhibition reduces both cell attachment and antimicrobial tolerance. We then compare an EPS inhibitor to conventional antimicrobials in an evolutionary experiment. While resistance against conventional antimicrobials rapidly evolves, we see no evolution of resistance to EPS inhibition. We further show that a resistant strain is outcompeted by a susceptible strain under EPS inhibitor treatment, explaining why resistance does not evolve. Our work suggests that targeting cooperative traits is a viable solution to the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

From the First Sino-Roman War (That Never Happened) to Modern International-cum-Imperial Relations: Observing International Politics from an Evolution Theory Perspective

2020 ◽  
pp. 139-156
Author(s):  
Stephan Stetter
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Political System ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
International Politics ◽  
World Society ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Social Field ◽  
Global System ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Reach

This chapter discusses how an international political system was eventually established while being theoretically anchored in the world society approaches of modern systems theory. It talks about a system of global reach within which struggles over collectively binding decisions are played out. It also looks at central dynamics that have shaped the evolution of international politics and its imperial underpinnings. The chapter argues that this system allowed a better understanding of what happened after the modern international political system, which became firmly established as a distinct and recognizable social field. It emphasizes that this global system was also the result of social evolution and have been subject to ongoing transformations ever since.

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