W5. Sociocultural Evolution(1) / Lee Se Hyun
Summary
Sociocultural evolution is a social theory that explains the
development of society and culture through the concept of evolution. Society
has different behaviors and different structures over time. In other words,
society and culture get complicated and developed over time. As the word
"evolution" suggests, it is a theory that applied Darwin's
"evolutionary theory" to society. Just as life evolves and moves to a
better stage, society has argued that a civilized society is a better society. Sociocultural
evolution has three
personalities. 1. To judge the value of other societies by the standards of
Western civilization with a deeply ethnic-centered character. 2. Assuming that
all cultures follow the same path, progress. 3. We equated material culture
with civilization. This has drawn much criticism from academia. It was heavily
criticized for racism, slavery and justifying imperialism. Jurgen Harbourmas
argued that social and cultural evolution was the rationalization of modernity
and called it the closest to the Holo Coast case.
Interesting point
The sociocultural
evolution presented a different interpretation of social development. However,
it has drawn much criticism for being used to justify the imperialist powers. I
think there is a reason why sociocultural evolution was used to justify
imperialism, racism and slavery. It used the unfair word 'progress' and
presented directionality in explaining social changes. The concept of
'evolution' has been distorted by subjective directional suggestions, giving
birth to many colonial countries and leaving great scars on the affected
countries.
Question
Even now,
the development of material culture is equated with the development of
civilization. A country with high science and technology has strong power, and
a developing country challenges power through the development of technology.
Will the tendency to equate material culture with civilization after a long
time?
I think the present world can only last because it is a capitalist society. Looking at the current situation, a country with a strong economy is strong globally. Developing countries admire the appearance of developed countries and develop them to live like them. Of course, developed countries have begun to pay attention to non-materials as they have completed some development, but it is believed that material culture will continue to be equated with civilization unless there is some development in developing countries.
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