Evolutionism and Its Critics

Stephen K. Sanderson is Professor of Sociology at the University of California-Riverside. He is the author of numerous articles and many books, including Evolutionism and Its Critics (Paradigm 2007).

“A welcome addition to the literature on revolutions…informative and thought provoking…a useful introduction for students.”—Contemporary Sociology Praise for Social Evolutionism “Social Evolutionism is one of the most important books I have read in recent years. It cuts through the nihilism and anti-scientism of the past decade with a splendidly shiny blade. It should be mandatory reading for every student of the social sciences. Professors—even those who disagree—will need to read it, as well. Sanderson covers much of the recent theoretical literature in the social sciences. His expositions of the works of leading figures make for one brilliant tour de force after another. Sanderson attacks after the most painstaking effort to make sure that he has not misrepresented his adversaries. I found the book as exciting as it is informative and have been urging everyone I know to get hold of it at once.” —Marvin Harris, University of Florida “The text is superb. With great rigor of analysis and clarity of presentation, [Sanderson] examines the writings of the leading practitioners and critics of social evolutionism, pruning away what he deems unsound or inadequate, and leaving in place a substantial and impressive intellectual structure. The combination of clear and compelling arguments and lucid and accessible writing makes this book…easily the outstanding treatment of the subject in print. It deserves wide currency and should become the standard textbook for any sociology or anthropology course on sociocultural evolution.” —Robert L. Carneiro, American Museum of Natural History

• Chapter 1 The Nature of Social Evolutionism; Chapter 2 Classical Evolutionism: I; Chapter 3 The Antievolutionary Reaction; Chapter 4 Marxism as Evolutionism; Chapter 5 Classical Evolutionism: II; Chapter 6 The Evolutionary Revival; Chapter 7 Sociological Evolutionism: I; Chapter 8 Anthropological Evolutionism Since 1960; Chapter 9 Sociological Evolutionism: II; Chapter 10 Evolutionary Biology and Social Evolutionism; Chapter 11 Contemporary Antievolutionism; Chapter 12 Evolutionary Materialism: A General Theory of Social Evolution; Epilogue Explaining the Ebb and Flow of Evolutionary Theorizing;