[PEN-L:8787] Re: punctuated equilibrium

["Charles Brown" <CharlesB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I believe one of the Gould/Eldredge punctuations is the Permian extinction which they explain by relating organic diversity to habitable area. They explain the Cambrian explosion by similarly "endogenous" variables. I think Gould subscribes to the exogenous comet variable theory for the dinosaur extinction.

Punctuated equilibrium would seem to provide an analogy or heuristic for evolution/revolution or quantitative change turning into qualitative change, or a dialectical materialist conception of the leap out of capitalism, and the leaps in precapitalist economic history. According to a poster on another list, Gould considers dialectics a heuristic device.

Since capitalism is a world system, I don't know if there are any obvious human exogenous variables that might change it. Of course, if a comet hits the earth, that might end capitalism by way of exogenous variable.

Charles Brown

>>> Jim Devine <jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 07/02/99 01:24PM >>>
In Louis' description, Michael Perelman >compares economic history with
Stephen Jay Gould's concept of "punctuated equilibrium"--a brilliant
observation...<

Please correct me if I'm wrong: Gould's (and Eldredge's) conception is that
the process of evolution tends to slow down and even stop, so that the
process can only continue if there's some catastrophic shock to the system,
like a massive comet hitting the earth or something else that causes a mass
dying.

This concept seems a needed addition to biology, getting us away from the
assumption that evolution is always and everywhere a gradual process. But
it seems a lot like the neoclassical concept of comparative statics, where
the economy is seen as changing only due to exogenous shocks.

It seems to me that what economics needs is more a matter of
self-punctuating equilibrium, as when capitalist accumulation undermines
its own status quo, unleashing forces of rebellion and reaction.

Inquiring minds want to know...

Jim Devine jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx &
http://clawww.lmu.edu/Faculty/JDevine/jdevine.html