Cases Flashcards
Ptolemaic Epicycles
An example of underdetermination, mathematically replicate the
observed movements of celestial bodies but were also consistent with anything else that could have been observed
The Lost European
Explorer Files
European explorers, despite their intelligence and outdoor abilities, were not able without indigenous knowledge. This suggests that human success is not due to intelligence, but that learning from each other (social learning) other gives rise to cumulative cultural evolution
Suicide
An example of following prestige cues (Suicides go up after both celebrity and non-celebrity
suicides)
Ancient Greece
An example of an extractive institution, the economy was largely based on slavery
Natufians
Possibly first made the transition to farming, were also sedentary prior to the creation of agriculture.
Lele and Bushong
links political innovation
and political structure to the creation of a set of social and economic institutions (technology, desire to purchase fire arms) which were necessary for the intensification of economic production.
Metsa
Spanish Shepherds guild, had traditional grazing rights and could drive its flocks right over farmers’ fields - bad for yields and agricultural productivity.
Steam engine
Perfected by James Watt, replaced wind and water power/reduced the amount of fuel consumed and the costs of energy.
The Transportation Revolution
Consisted of the construction of a dense network of canals and turnpike roads.
Led to a dramatic fall in the time taken to travel between different places and in the costs of moving goods.
Darby and Cort
Figured out how to use coal to smelt iron, rather than charcoal
Absolutism
Absence of checks or constraints on the use of power.
Associated with a re-centralization of political power after the decline of feudalism, which was very decentralized.
