Reply to comment

 I think the biggest question we came up with at the end of class was whether cultural evolution was random or rather it was influenced by consciousness and then of course, which had the biggest effect.  

Again, like Julie has said, I wonder whether it can be both.  I think in many cases there are random factors that lead up to great cultural change which could have evolved from what was once conscious choices, as well as other entirely random things.  Weather, other historical events, etc.  To say it was all one or all the other would be simply misleading.  But it would also be misleading to deny that conscious choice has any power in our lives.  Whether or not the change was impacted by random forces, or random forces that were once not-so-random, we do in fact DECIDE to change and yes, we still have the ability to decide to change.  For instance,, in the fashion world, we can choose whether to wear something.  Unless I guess, a style dies out and we can no longer find it in the store.  

Again, like Julie said, there could be a mixture of the two.  Unconscious action could lead to conscious change and vice versa.  If we had no say in the matter, how would things be different?  It also just feels odd to characterize cultural change as random because it implies that we have lack choice.  I understand that it's more like saying that this choice was based upon so many random things in our lives rather than we lack any ability to choose, but it still feels odd.  I guess I feel inclined to constantly deny an argument implying that consciousness doesn't have some kind of impact.  

I also feel like when we get to humans, we start to get really complicated in which there are really facts.  There can really only be opinions which are based on other opinions and in the end, the whole thing is rather flimsy.  What benefit will defining cultural revolution do for us?