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Explaining historical change in terms of LHT: A pluralistic causal framework is needed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2019

Aurélien Allard Open the ORCID record for Aurélien Allard [Opens in a new window]  and
Antoine Marie
Aurélien Allard
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Political Theory, University of Paris 8, 93526 Saint Denis, [email protected]://aurelienallard.netlify.com/
Antoine Marie
Affiliation:
Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity; Paris Descartes University, 75004 Paris, [email protected]://antoinemariesci.wixsite.com/antoinemarie Institut Jean Nicod, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
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Abstract

Baumard suggests that the advent, through phenotypic plasticity mechanisms, of future-oriented preferences and creative mindsets in eighteenth-century Great Britain explains the wave of innovations that drove the British Industrial Revolution. We argue that, although this approach is promising, Baumard's model would benefit from being supplemented by demographic, economic, and sociological explanations independent of Life History Theory (LHT).

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 42 , 2019 , e190
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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