| Gerhard Lenski |
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| 1924 births | |
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| lenski, gerhard | |
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In his ''Power and Prestige'' (1966) and ''Human Societies: An Introduction to Macrosociology'' (1974) he expands on the works of Leslie White and Lewis Henry Morgan . He views the Technological Progress as the most basic factor in the evolution of societies and cultures. Unlike White, who defined technology as the ability to create and utilise Energy , Lenski focuses on Information - its amount and uses. The more information and knowledge (especially allowing the shaping of natural environment) a given society has, the more advanced it is. He distinguished four stages of human development, based on the advances in the History Of Communication . In the first stage, information is passed by Gene s. In the second, when humans gain Sentience , they can Learn and pass information through by experience. In the third, the humans start using Signs and develop Logic . In the fourth, they can create Symbol s, develop Language and Writing . Advancements in the technology of communication translates into advancements in the Economic System and Political System , Distribution Of Goods , Social Inequality and other spheres of social life. He also differentiates societies based on their level of technology, communication and economy: 1) hunters and gatherers, 2) simple agricultural, 3) advanced agricultural, 4) industrial 5) special (e.g. fishing societies). EXTERNAL LINKS |
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