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Between a rock and a hard place: second thoughts on Laibman’s Deep History and the theory of punctuated equilibrium with regard to intellectual evolution

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  • Altug Yalcintas

    (Ankara University)

Abstract

In this article I reconsider Laibman’s Deep History (2007) in the light of Niles Eldredge and Stephan Jay Gould’s theory of punctuated equilibrium. I argue that the theory of punctuated equilibrium explains (1) why conceptions of inevitability and directionality in intellectual evolution may not be as useful as Laibman thinks they are in the context of social evolution and (2) why stasis (that is, intellectual path dependence) in intellectual evolution does not allow different pathways of thought to converge.

Suggested Citation

  • Altug Yalcintas, 2012. "Between a rock and a hard place: second thoughts on Laibman’s Deep History and the theory of punctuated equilibrium with regard to intellectual evolution," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 6(1), November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bus:jphile:v:6:y:2012:i:1:n:6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Howard Aldrich & Geoffrey Hodgson & David Hull & Thorbjørn Knudsen & Joel Mokyr & Viktor Vanberg, 2008. "In defence of generalized Darwinism," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 577-596, October.
    2. Arthur, W Brian, 1989. "Competing Technologies, Increasing Returns, and Lock-In by Historical Events," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 99(394), pages 116-131, March.
    3. Elias L. Khalil, 1995. "Has Economics Progressed? Rectilinear, Historicist, Universalist, and Evolutionary Historiographies," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 27(1), pages 43-87, Spring.
    4. Hodgson, Geoffrey M. & Knudsen, Thorbjorn, 2006. "Why we need a generalized Darwinism, and why generalized Darwinism is not enough," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Johan Schot & Frank Geels, 2007. "Niches in evolutionary theories of technical change," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 605-622, October.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    punctuated equilibrium; continual progress; perfection; intellectual path dependence.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;

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