Foundations of cultural evolution: Introduction

'Cultural evolution' as a field applies the insight that cultural change may be like biological evolution. Concepts, methods and ideas from the well-established theory of biological evolution are applied to cultural processes, such as the spread and diversification of languages or technology. Some researchers even suggest that evolutionary theory may serve as a synthetic framework for unifying the humanities and the social sciences, just as biological evolution is viewed as a unifying principle underlying all life sciences. This theme issue examines the theoretical and methodological core of this rapidly expanding field. What premises form the foundation? What are the disparities? The issue unites perspectives and fosters dialogue between scholars across disciplines - breaking ground in the study of the dynamics and diversity of culture.