Cultural evolution: theories and observations

About this programme

The course gives an overview of patterns of cultural change and the diversity of theories and methods used in research on cultural evolution. You will analyse differences between humans and other animals and what lies behind the emergence of cultural complexity and diversity. You will learn about how mathematics can be an important tool for theoretical work and how to formalise ideas to generate testable hypotheses. You will also learn about the benefits of interdisciplinary interactions in terms of utilizing knowledge from different disciplines. You will be encouraged to contribute with knowledge from your own field. You will meet fellow students and active researchers from the humanities, social and natural sciences, which is beneficial for future research cooperation across disciplines. The course runs at 50% time in the evening during the first half of the spring term. The course is built up by lectures, seminars, computer labs and exercises. Activities will be scheduled two to three evenings a week. Activities are led by the team of teachers that covers a wide range of subjects in the humanities, social and natural sciences, including cultural evolution, sociology, linguistics, psychology, history of ideas, archaeology, mathematics and biology. A list of the learning outcomes can be found in the syllabus. Please find the link to the syllabus on the right side of this page. Assessment will be based on active participation in class, written and oral presentations, and a written exam.