TIM LEWENS cultural evolution

One of the centrepieces of the Royal Society’s celebration of its 350th anniversary in 2010 was a conference entitled ‘Culture Evolves’ (Whiten et al. [2011]). This proclamation is true, to the point of being a truism, if one takes evolution to mean no more than change over time. Is there another sense of ‘culture evolves’ that is not only more substantial, but plausible enough to be worthy of serious scientific and philosophical interest? Tim Lewens believes there is, and argues in this lucid and engaging overview of research on cultural evolution that ‘the social sciences have little to fear, and something to gain’ from the naturalistic approach to culture that it represents. Well-informed about both cultural evolutionary theory and the objections raised against it, Lewens plays the role of an honest broker. He uses his philosophical skills to puncture hyperbole, excise pseudo-problems, and work away at conceptual knots until it is clear where the real troubles lie. Upbeat and generous, especially to scientists, Lewens casts the view of cultural evolution that survives his analysis as eclectic and potentially fruitful. A less generous observer might see the view that survives as a tad disappointing.