1. Is Human Culture Cumulative?
- Author
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Vaesen, Krist, Houkes, Wybo, Caldwell, Christine A., Renner, Elizabeth, Kean, Donna, Blakey, Kirsten H., Wilks, Charlotte E. H., Atkinson, Mark, Kraemer, Sarah B., Mackintosh, Gemma, de la Peña, Paloma, Haidle, Miriam Noël, Schlaudt, Oliver, Mesoudi, Alex, Muller, Antoine, Rawlings, Bruce, Flynn, Emma G., Wood, Lara A., Shipton, Ceri, and Stout, Dietrich
- Subjects
CULTURE ,SOCIAL evolution ,POPULATION ,EVOLUTIONARY theories ,ANIMAL culture - Abstract
It has been claimed that a unique feature of human culture is that it accumulates beneficial modifications over time. On the basis of a couple of methodological considerations, we here argue that, perhaps surprisingly, there is insufficient evidence for a proper test of this claim. And we indicate what further research would be needed to firmly establish the cumulativeness of human culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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