Edward B. Tylor & Theories of Cultural Evolution MCQs The Edward B. Tylor & Theories of Cultural Evolution MCQs subject is critical for candidates who are preparing for the CSS Competitive exams, especially in the field of anthropological theory. Edward B. Tylor, sometimes the father of contemporary cultural anthropology, came up with the idea that culture is a composite entity comprising knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, and customs acquired by human beings as members of society. His cultural evolution theory proposed that human societies go through a sequence of stages from savagery to barbarism and ultimately to civilization, providing the foundation for subsequent arguments over social progress, ethnocentrism, and cultural diversity.
H2: Unilinear Evolution and Its Influence on Anthropology
Tylor’s theory of unilinear cultural evolution held that all societies follow one line of development, with Western civilization at the pinnacle. He considered practices such as animism, magic, and rituals as precursors to explaining the world, which would ultimately give way to science and reason. Although contemporary anthropology has faulted such a perception as ethnocentrically biased, it was a pioneering step towards codifying the culture. For CSS students, this theory is important to understand because it traces the intellectual history of anthropology and serves as a basis for examining colonial histories, development ideologies, and the development of cross-cultural contrasts.
H3: Defining Culture and the Concept of Survivals
Tylor’s greatest lasting impact was his definition of culture, which is still much quoted in scholarly and policy communities. He also developed the concept of “survivals”, or older cultural characteristics that remain in contemporary societies even after losing their initial purposes. This is highly applicable in a nation such as Pakistan, where old customs, superstitions, and folk beliefs exist alongside contemporary technology and institutions. CSS candidates are able to utilize Tylor’s thoughts in order to assess how remnants of tribal systems, colonial jurisprudence, or pre-Islamic rituals persistently influence social practice and governmental strategies in diverse sections of the country.
To conclude, learning Edward B. Tylor and cultural evolution hypotheses is important if one wishes to comprehend how anthropologists previously made sense of human society formation. Although his theory is outdated, it is a key framework for examining the origins of contemporary anthropological thought and critically assessing earlier and current conceptions of cultural superiority. For prospective civil servants in Pakistan, this understanding increases their capacity to deal with various cultural contexts, create inclusive policies, and value the intricate relationship between tradition and modernity in national development.
