Исследовательская программа «Новая эволюционная социология»: обзор содержательных ориентирующих стратегий

Социологическое обозрение. 2026. Т. 25. № 2. С. 332–359.

Skorokhodov N.

The article presents a systematic review of the substantive strategies of the New Evolutionary Sociology (NES) program, based on the methodology of the theoretical research programs of J. Berger and M. Zelditch. The review reveals two alternative theoretical directions within NES expressed in the scientific works of Jonathan Turner and Joseph Lopreato. Turner and Lopreato hold mutually opposed positions regarding the use of sociobiology and evolutionary psychology in NES. Turnertakes a critical stance toward sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, while Lopreato adopts a favorable position. The respective research trends following from each of the positions formulate substantive orienting strategies in different ways. These substantive strategies are presented in this review through the authors’ different use of three concepts: evolution, human nature, and the coevolution of biology and culture. Regarding the concept of “evolution,” both directions accept the so-called “Modern Synthesis” in biology but differ in their understanding of natural selection. The concept of “human nature” is conceptualized by both directions in a conflictual way, and both focus on behavior, but Turner’s direction allows for more alternative conceptualizations than Lopreato’s. Within the concept of “coevolution”, both directions seek to reflect the influence of biology on socio-cultural evolution through human nature but differ in their understanding of the scale of its impact on the construction of the socio-cultural sphere. Turner’s direction is theoretically unstable and has conceptual problems but still represents a holistic theoretical alternative to the largely reductionist direction of Lopreato within the framework of NES.

Keywords: эволюционная психология, human nature, человеческая природа, социобиология, sociobiology, evolutionary psychology, coevolution biology and culture, biocultural evolution, Durkheimian selection, New Evolutionary Sociology (NES), Spenserian selection, Новая эволюционная социология (НЭС), коэволюция биологии и культуры, спенсеровский отбор, биокультурная эволюция