Scholarlink

<p>Niche construction theory (NCT) has become a prominent strain within the “Extended Synthesis” literature in evolutionary biology. Moreover, because human beings are indisputably “the most creative niche constructor”, “the ultimate ecosystem engineers”, and “the world’s greatest evolutionary force”, niche construction has been imported to social sciences as social niche construction (SNC) or human niche construction. Yet, NCT has also encountered quite a bit of criticism. If so, what is the value of importing NCT to social sciences as SNC? This article takes the criticisms against NCT and SNC seriously and advances a set of ontological and epistemological principles for applying SNC in social sciences. In particular, I highlight the potential explanatory power of SNC, contending SNC can help us transcend the agent-structure/system debate in social theory, illustrating with Norbert Elias’s [1939] 1994a. <i>The Civilizing Process</i>. I also stress that SNC allows us to synthesize micro, meso, and macro for understanding social changes in different niches or domains through time and space, by firmly bringing time and space into theorization in social sciences inquires.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Niche construction to social sciences: can it help?

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月28日

查看全文
  • Shiping Tang

摘要

Niche construction theory (NCT) has become a prominent strain within the “Extended Synthesis” literature in evolutionary biology. Moreover, because human beings are indisputably “the most creative niche constructor”, “the ultimate ecosystem engineers”, and “the world’s greatest evolutionary force”, niche construction has been imported to social sciences as social niche construction (SNC) or human niche construction. Yet, NCT has also encountered quite a bit of criticism. If so, what is the value of importing NCT to social sciences as SNC? This article takes the criticisms against NCT and SNC seriously and advances a set of ontological and epistemological principles for applying SNC in social sciences. In particular, I highlight the potential explanatory power of SNC, contending SNC can help us transcend the agent-structure/system debate in social theory, illustrating with Norbert Elias’s [1939] 1994a. The Civilizing Process. I also stress that SNC allows us to synthesize micro, meso, and macro for understanding social changes in different niches or domains through time and space, by firmly bringing time and space into theorization in social sciences inquires.