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Re: Social Evolution
Karen Carr (KAREN@CH2.CH.PDX.EDU)
Mon, 16 May 1994 10:48:58 PST
I'm the historian from Portland, and I never meant to imply that progress was
being made. I
only meant that cultures change in a way that is analogous to the way biological
populations
change, and tried to give some examples. I am sorry I picked examples which
might be seen as
change for the better or progress, but I deliberately chose the example of VCR's
because I
thought everyone knew Betas were actually superior to VHS.
Sorry if I misled people.
Nevertheless (apropos of cultural relativity) I reserve the right to think
(accepting my own
cultural bias) that some ways of living are preferable to others. Change is a
nice neutral word,
but in the end aren't we supposed to be doing more than ONLY describing and
explaining? I
mean, wouldn't it be nice to get some answers out of this whole enterprise? Or
am I hopelessly
old-fashioned?
(Not rhetorical questions).
Karen Eva Carr
History Department
Portland State University
Portland Oregon 97203
(503) 725-5472
karen@ch2.ch.pdx.edu
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