About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherBloomsbury Publishing USA

ISBN-100275967875

ISBN-139780275967871

eBay Product ID (ePID)1700868

Product Key Features

Number of Pages272 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameOrder and Disorder

SubjectSociology / General, Life Sciences / Evolution, General

Publication Year2001

TypeTextbook

AuthorDavid Rich

Subject AreaSocial Science, Education, Science, Psychology

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.8 in

Item Weight19.9 Oz

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceCollege Audience

LCCN00-032380

Dewey Edition21

Number of Volumes1 vol.

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal003

Table Of ContentThe Problem Situation The Illusion of a Paradox Complexity Theory: Comments and Critique Chaos Theory: Comments and Critique René Thom's Catastrophe Theory: Comments and Critique The Dynamics of Crisis Theory Introduction Comments on Game Theory Introduction to Crisis Theory Order and Disorder: I-Crisis Theory Order and Disorder: II-Dynamics and Discontinuity Acceptance and rejection:The Critical Test Order and Disorder Introduction Crisis Theory and the Strategy of Evolution Order and Disorder in Our Contemporary Era Order and Disorder in Our Contemporary Era: The Paradox of Industrialization Concluding Comments: The Ethical Imperative-Dollo's law and Crisis Theory Selected Bibliography Index

SynopsisAfter critiquing chaos, catastrophe, and complexity theories, showing their limitations in the contemporary era, Rich furthers the development of crisis theory and applies the crisis theory approach to biological and social evolution. Treating evolution in the context of crisis theory, he shows that as evolution is both genetic and social, social evolution is an extension of biological evolution. As physical evolution results from problem solving, social evolution develops from the solving of historically significant problems, bringing about, for instance, the post-World War II era of knowledge. In this context, Rich discusses the problems of our era, with an emphasis on the paradox of industrialization and its consequences for wealthy and poor nations alike. The paradox of industrialization is approached in terms of crisis theory and resolved.

LC Classification NumberB105