Lorentz Center Public Event - Does culture evolve?

Description

Ever since Darwin, scientists have wondered about the parallels between biological evolution and cultural change. Darwin thought, for instance, that words and languages are as much subject to a struggle for existence as elephants and trees are. However, does the same apply to culture in general? To rituals, agricultural practices and art? To tweets and fake news? To science? Does it make sense to approach these realms of culture by means of methods originating in biology? Cultural Darwinians think it does, others heartily disagree.

The public event “Does culture evolve?” provides an accessible introduction to recent advances in this debate. A line-up of internationally acclaimed researchers will critically discuss the supposed cultural habits of fruitflies, Darwinian approaches to the study of religion, the spread and evolution of fake news, and general arguments for and against the Darwinization of culture.

This public lecture is part of a collaboration between Rijksmuseum Boerhaave and the Lorentz Center, in which internationally respected experts address a wide audience on topics of societal and/or scientific importance.

Periode	5-apr.-2019
Evenementstype	Other
Locatie	Leiden, NetherlandsToon op kaart
Mate van erkenning	National