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Biological Evolution Basics
Biological evolution occurs when the characteristics or properties of an organism change. These changes cannot be witnessed in a single organism directly, but instead occur through the blood lines and ancestry of the organism over time. Biological evolution occurs genetically, as mutations occasionally occur within an organism's DNA. On occasion, a mutation is a positive outcome for an organism, as it can enhance its ability to survive. These mutations are passed down through generations, causing a change in the genetic makeup, and thus the biological evolution of the species.
Social Evolution Basics
Social evolution takes place in human society throughout history. It occurs though cultural and societal changes, in the development of communities, education, agriculture, government, military and other societal structures. It can be witnessed in changes in trade and commerce, money, languages, faith and entertainment. Changes occur when society as a whole accepts and chooses a new or different way of life. Unlike biological evolution, which cannot be witnessed in individuals, social evolution can be seen within an individual, and passes between individuals who are unrelated. Social evolution also has the ability to transcend space and time through the transmission of ideas to future generations.
Rate of Change
Both biological and social evolution occur at a slow rate over time. However, social change has the potential to happen much more rapidly when compared to biological evolution. Major world events can dramatically alter a society at an advanced pace. In biological evolution, changes occur very slowly over each generation. The rate of change is also dependent on the life and reproduction cycles of the organism.
Purpose and Choice
Purpose and choice are other areas where biological and social evolutions differ. Biological evolution happens at random, and while it does serve a purpose, individual organisms cannot choose how they evolve. They cannot choose their genetic makeup. However, under social evolution, societies choose to evolve to serve a larger goal or purpose. It is the choice of individuals in a society to choose or adopt a socio-cultural characteristic.
3. What is a "class system"?
Class System
The class system is universal phenomenon denoting a category or group of persons having a definite status in society which permanently determines their relation to other groups. The social classes are de facto groups (not legally or religiously defined and sanctioned) they are relatively open not closed. Their basis is indisputably economic but they are more than economic groups. They are characteristic groups of the industrial societies which have developed since 17th century. The relative importance and definition of membership in a particular class differs greatly over time and between societies, particularly in societies that have a legal differentiation of groups of people by birth or occupation. In the well-known example of socioeconomic class, many scholars view societies as stratifying into a hierarchical system based on occupation,economic status, wealth, or income.
4. What factors influence the rate of change experienced by a society?
Lenski's theory begins from the insights of T. Robert Malthus. From Malthus Lenski borrows the observation that human societies are part of the world of nature. Human societies are subject to natural law. Sociocultural systems can only be fully understood as being responsive to the interactions of populations to their environments. Like Malthus's theory, at the base of Lenski's perspective lies the relationship between population and production. Like many life forms humans have a reproductive capacity that substantially exceeds the necessary subsistence resources in the environment. Thus, Lenski concludes, human populations tend to grow until they come up against the limits of food production, and then they are checked. The checks, of course, consist of both the positive and preventive checks that Malthus first explored in 1798. The capacity for population growth, Lenski asserts, has been a “profoundly destabilizing force throughout human history and may well be the ultimate source of most social and cultural change.” Lenski posits that the relationships among population, production, and environment drive the evolution of sociocultural systems. Lenski's ecological-evolutionary theory successfully integrates and synthesizes a variety of theoretical perspectives. His macro social theory is arguably the most comprehensive perspective in sociology today.
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