A few reminders to accompany recent messages submitted to ISHPSB-L, the listserv of the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB). Friday, Jan. 31 is the deadline for submitting abstracts for the 1997 ISHPSSB meeting in Seattle (to be held July 16-20). Saturday, Feb. 1 is the deadline for submitting papers for the Marjorie Grene Prize. Saturday, Feb. 1 is also the deadline for nominations for committee members. See the last newsletter (distributed via e-mail in early December and via snail mail more recently) for details on these deadlines. Finally, all subscribers to this list should be members of ISHPSSB. If you are not a member, please join by checking out our web-page at http://server.phil.vt.edu/ishpssb/ or contact the society secretary, (Barbara Horan) at [log in to unmask] Thank you, Chris ------------ First Message begins here ------------ From: [log in to unmask] (Agner Fog) Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 16:38:42 +0100 Subject: Announcement. Cultural selection online book Cultural selection - Electronic book available for discussion Allow me to introduce a new interdisciplinary theory for cultural change. This theory has important consequences for several branches of science, and therefore needs to be discussed in a broad forum. In order to facilitate this discussion, I have published my theory as an electronic book and made it available at: http://announce.com/agner/cultsel The book will appear later in print. Abstract of the book: Cultural phenomena are subject to a selection process resembling natural selection due to the fact that some phenomena are more likely to be copied than others. There are many fundamental differences between biological evolution and cultural selection, however, so you cannot draw conclusions by analogy from one process to the other. Unlike traditional evolutionist thinkers, I do not infer that cultural selection always will lead in the same direction (called 'progress'). Rather, I have found that cultural selection may lead in different directions depending on the external conditions. In a militant environment, where war or threat of war is common, the society will develop towards a pronouncedly hierarchic organization characterized by a strict discipline. Individual freedom is restricted because ressources of the individual (time, energy, material possessions) must be heavily taxed because they are needed to strengthen the group. In an isolated or sparsely populated environment, where warfare is unlikely or impossible, the development will go in the opposite direction: You will se an egalitarian society where individualism and tolerance prevails. Here, individuals are believed to live for their own sake, rather than for the sake of the community. The same applies to societies where war and international conflict is unlikely for other reasons. I am introducing the term 'regal' for the former type of society, and 'kalyptic' for the latter. The absolutely regal or absolutely kalyptic society does not exist. You should think of a graduated scale representing varying degrees of regality or kalypticity, rather than a polarization into ideal types or extremes. I have found that the regal/kalyptic (r/k-) dimension has a strong influence on many areas of cultural life: religion, philosophy, world- view, and political principles are gradually developing in the direction which is most compatible with the position of the society on the r/k- scale. Interestingly, also the artistic style and music preferences of the population are strongly influenced by these factors. There seems to be a psychological mechanism which makes people prefer the style of art and music which is most congruent with the political structure, philosophy, and world-view of their social environment. Also the sexual behavior of the population is influenced: In a regal society the production of children is much higher than in a kalyptic society. The mechanisms behind all these processes are fairly complicated. You will find them explained in my book. Please tune in your web-browser at: http://announce.com/agner/cultsel (or: http://login.dknet.dk/~agner/cultsel), read my book, and give your opinion. I want to get a discussion going in the relevant newsgroups and mailing lists. I am aware that my cultural r/k-theory has important political consequences. Please keep the political and scientific arguments completely separate. Agner Fog, Ph.D. Denmark. E-mail: [log in to unmask] ------------ Second Message begins here ------------ From: George Joseph <[log in to unmask]> Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 12:24:11 -0500 (EST) Subject: CFP: 1997 JAS in History of Biology Call for Papers: Joint Atlantic Seminar in the History of Biology, 1997 The 33rd annual meeting of the Joint Atlantic Seminar in the History of Biology will be held on 11-12 April 1997 and will be hosted by the Section of the History of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine. The meeting will begin on Friday evening with a reception and a banquet on Saturday evening will conclude the meeting's activities. Call for Papers: The program committee invites abstracts of no more than 300 words on all aspects of the history of biology and the life sciences. Paper presentations will be limited to 20 minutes and must constitute original work not already published or in press. Submissions from graduate students, recent graduates, and junior faculty are especially encouraged. To maximize time for discussion, no more than ten papers will be selected for presentation on Saturday, April 12. Abstracts must be received by 31 January 1997; notification will be made by 28 February 1997. Registration material, and information on housing and possible travel grants will also be available in February. Abstracts, requests for registration material, and questions about the meeting should be directed to: Joint Atlantic Seminar 1997 c/o Section of the History of Medicine Yale University School of Medicine L132 Sterling Hall of Medicine P. O. Box 208015 New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8015 e-mail: [log in to unmask] telephone: 203.785.4338 (Abstracts and correspondence, when possible, should be submitted by e-mail.) _________________________ 33rd Annual Meeting Joint Atlantic Seminar in History of Biology and Medicine 11-12 April 1997 Yale University School of Medicine Section of the History of Medicine and Science New Haven, Connecticut ------------ Messages end here ------------