Features of Sociocultural Evolution

Abstract. The article covers features of algorithms of process of horizontal sociocultural evolution, connected with adaptation to external conditions and increasing of system’s specialized adaptation, and vertical evolution, involving amplification of inner structure and improving of system-related characteristics.

Key words. Culture, local cultural system, evolution, adaptation, system-related characteristics.

[1] Fulfilment of any tasks related to evolution eliminates a certain quality and form. Achievement of a hypothetic final goal by evolution would not only mean the end of history, but elimination of the human being. In fact, an attitude, due to which evolution is directed towards a final goal, just reflects a psychological aptitude to transfer to impersonal and natural processes a teleological myth that any process goes along with a certain goal-setting.
[2] Global, as they are acting in all systems of the Universe or, at least, visible part of the Galaxy involved into the evolution process.
[3] Special explanation of difficulty category. See: Pelipenko A.A. The Global Crisis and the Problem of the West. Moscow: Znaniye, 2014.
[4] See: Pelipenko A.A. Culture and Meaning // Selected Works on the Theory of Culture. Moscow: Soglasiye-Artem, 2014.
[5] The rejection by the human being’s consciousness of this limitation and an aspiration to overcome it initiated a monotheistic concept of “form of all forms” as an attribute of divine absolute.
[6] For example, in the biological system the narrower and deeper a specialized adaptation of a certain kind is, the more it is vulnerable in case of spontaneous changes of environment. The same works in culture.
[7] The methodological problem of many evolution theories is connected with the concepts of adaptation and specializing being linked to the process of evolution in general. In this case, it becomes rather difficult to explain rapidly changing progressive aromorphosis. This involves various twists and turns, exaggerating of exogenous factors, etc.  
[8] That’s why any experimental efforts to make anthropoid apes behave as human beings, searching for and stimulating their manlike mental and language potential, can’t cross an impassible limit line of their vertical form of development having once plateaued.
[9] According to K. Jaspers, the epoch of dualistic revolution lasts longer than Axial Age and embraces the period up to 7th century C.E.
[10] I have analyzed personality as a cultural anthropological type and about personality and revolution in other works.
[11] The higher system complexity of evolutionizing form is, the faster it occurs.
[12] Considering the Ancient period to be a huge local cultural system in the cultural and historical context, I write this word beginning with the capital letter.
[13] Analysis of difficulty category. See: Pelipenko A.A. The Global Crisis and the Problem of the West. Moscow: Znaniye, 2014.
[14] Ibid.