Title: Simple lives, cultural complexity : rethinking culture in terms of complexity theory /
Authors: Bergendorff, Steen
Publisher: Lexington Books,
Year: 2009
Subjects: Culture.; Social systems.; Complex organizations.; Complexity (Philosophy)
Abstract: "Simple Lives, Cultural Complexity explores how people manage to live relativey simple lives while seemingly unaware of the cultural complexity they produce while doing so. Using complexity thoery, this book reconceptualizes culture as a complex dynamic system called "cultural complexity" and argues that cultural complexity arises from persistent interactions among people and groups who act according to simple rules. The order produced is different from, and not reducible to, the interactions that created it. People only need simple rules of engagement in order to cope with their surroundings: rules that can be enacted through all kinds of strategies, and that together produce very complex emergent properties. Steen Bergendorff argues that people do not need to know their entire "cultural order" and its formal logics to cope with everyday life. They do not need to be enculturated; they only need to be enskilled to act in everyday situations."--Pub. desc.
Contents: Western ontology and cultural malaises -- Contested culture -- Complex dynamic systems -- Cultural complexity -- Persistent interaction and cultural complexity among the Mekeo, PNG -- Cultural complexity and change in Mekeo society.