Catastrophe Theory and Human Evolution
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3027336 |
|---|---|
| Authors | David S Weaver (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1980 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 403-410 |
| Publication date | 1980-12-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Anthropological Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0091-7710 • E-ISSN: 2153-3806 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1086/jar.36.4.3629609 |
| OpenAlex | W2331510842 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
Thom's Theory of Catastrophes (1975) provides models for the potential resolution of several issues in the study of hominid evolution. This paper examines the problems of australopithecine divergence and of Neanderthal differentiation in terms of Thom's cusp catastrophe model. The cusp model provides for a resolution of the differences between theories of gradual or "instantaneous" evolutionary change and can account for apparent discontinuities between hominid forms
Biology · Catastrophe theory · Classification of discontinuities · Cusp (singularity) · Divergence (linguistics) · Evolutionary biology · Geometry · Mathematical analysis · Physics · Statistical physics · Geology · Mathematics · Paleontology · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science
| Citations per year | 0.1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1996 - 2017 (22) |
| Highly cited | No |