Abstract
Ralph Wendell Burhoe's legacy rests on a series of interrelated theories that deal with (1) the emergence of life within physical nature; (2) the symbiosis of genes and cultures in human evolution; (3) the central importance of the brain in this symbiosis; and (4) the function of religion within this evolutionary process to carry the traditions of trans‐kin altruism that make human civilization possible. These theories give rise to a number of issues that are of current importance. Burhoe's stature is enhanced when one considers that these theories were first articulated by him in the 1970s, in reliance upon the work of J. Bronowski, Alfred E. Emerson, and Donald T. Campbell.
Keywords
Ralph Wendell Burhoe, civilization, J. Bronowski, altruism, Donald T. Campbell, Alfred E. Emerson, genes and culture, symbiosis
How to Cite
Hefner, P., (1998) “Ralph Burhoe's Evolutionary Theory of Religion”, Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 33(1), 165–169. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/0591-2385.1351998135
Rights
© 2024 The Author(s).44
Views
66
Downloads
1
Citations