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Most literature on aesthetic innovation has focused on single producers who use radical aesthetic innovation to differentiate their products. However, a few scholars, as well as anecdotal evidence, suggest that when gazed at from the category level, aesthetic innovation usually occurs as incremental variations of a dominant aesthetic. Extant theory fails to account for why we see cycles of shift and stability in the dominant aesthetic of a category. In this study, we identify the mechanisms that drove such shifts and stability in the dominant aesthetic of the hearing aid category from 1945 to 2015. Leveraging this study, we develop theory showing that alignment or misalignment between category meanings and recent cultural trends spurs producers to generate new categorical aspirations to associate their category with new sets of meanings. However, producers introduce radical new aesthetic innovations only when a change in product form allows them to experiment. Examining aesthetic evolution at the category level helps to shed light on category-level patterns of aesthetic shifts and stability, why attempts to differentiate outside the dominant aesthetic are rare, and why product aesthetics across a category shift synchronously between dominant aesthetics. Furthermore, we enhance understanding of the roles of culture in category evolution and of aesthetics in the construction of category meaning, and we show how such meanings are periodically and collectively renegotiated in mature categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperation is prevalent across bacteria, but risks being exploited by non-cooperative cheats. Horizontal gene transfer, particularly via plasmids, has been suggested as a mechanism to stabilize cooperation. A key prediction of this hypothesis is that genes which are more likely to be transferred, such as those on plasmids, should be more likely to code for cooperative traits. Testing this prediction requires identifying all genes for cooperation in bacterial genomes. However, previous studies used a method which likely misses some of these genes for cooperation. To solve this, we used a new genomics tool, SOCfinder, which uses three distinct modules to identify all kinds of genes for cooperation. We compared where these genes were located across 4648 genomes from 146 bacterial species. In contrast to the prediction of the hypothesis, we found no evidence that plasmid genes are more likely to code for cooperative traits. Instead, we found the opposite-that genes for cooperation were more likely to be carried on chromosomes. Overall, the vast majority of genes for cooperation are not located on plasmids, suggesting that the more general mechanism of kin selection is sufficient to explain the prevalence of cooperation across bacteria.

Behavioural variation among individuals is a hallmark of cooperative societies, which commonly contain breeders and non‐breeders, helpers and non‐helpers. In some cases, labour is divided with non‐breeders “helping.” Conversely, in some societies, subordinate non‐breeders may not help. These individuals may be (i) an insurance workforce ensuring continuity of help for breeders when other helpers are lost, (ii) conserving energy while waiting to breed themselves or (iii) simply of too poor physiological quality either to help or breed. In the Australian Outback, Acacia thrips Dunatothrips aneurae (Thysanoptera) glue Acacia phyllodes into “domiciles” using silk‐like secretions, either alone or cooperatively. Domicile maintenance is important for humidity, so repair can be interpreted as helping. I found that not all females helped to repair damage; some repaired partially or not at all (“non‐helpers”). At the same time, some co‐foundresses are non‐ or partially reproductive (“non‐breeders”), and their role is currently unknown. I first tested the possibility that helping and breeding are divided, with non‐helping females breeding, and non‐breeders helping. In a lab experiment, I rejected this idea. Experimentally damaged domiciles were typically repaired by reproductive females, and less so by non‐ or partially reproductive individuals. To test whether non‐helpers are an insurance workforce, I successively removed repairing females and found that non‐helping females from the same domicile did not increase effort as a result, rejecting this hypothesis. Then I tested whether non‐helpers were conserving energy waiting to breed. In a field experiment, I removed all other females, allowing either a helpful female or a non‐helper to “inherit” her domicile. Isolated like this, non‐helpers laid very few eggs compared to helpers or naturally occurring single foundresses, despite similar ovarian development. My findings show that labour was not divided: reproduction and helping covaried positively, probably depending on individual variation in female quality and intra‐domicile competition. Non‐helping females were neither an insurance workforce nor conserving energy waiting to breed. They are likely simply of poor quality, freeloading by benefiting from domicile maintenance by others. I hypothesize they are tolerated because of selection for indiscriminate communal brood care in the form of domicile repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of sociality represents one of the most important evolutionary transitions. Insect sociality evolved in some hemipteran aphids, which can produce soldiers and normal nymphs with distinct morphology and behaviour through parthenogenesis. The lack of genomic data resources has hindered the investigations into molecular mechanisms underlying their social evolution. Herein, we generated the first chromosomal‐level genome of a social hemipteran (Pseudoregma bambucicola) with highly specialized soldiers and performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses to elucidate the molecular signatures and regulatory mechanisms of caste differentiation. P. bambucicola has a larger known aphid genome of 582.2 Mb with an N50 length of 11.24 Mb, and about 99.6% of the assembly was anchored to six chromosomes with a scaffold N50 of 98.27 Mb. A total of 14,027 protein‐coding genes were predicted and 37.33% of the assembly were identified as repeat sequences. The social evolution is accompanied by a variety of changes in genome organization, including expansion of gene families related to transcription factors, transposable elements, as well as species‐specific expansions of certain sugar transporters and UGPases involved in carbohydrate metabolism. We also characterized large candidate gene sets linked to caste differentiation and found evidence of expression regulation and positive selection acting on energy metabolism and muscle structure, explaining the soldier‐specific traits including morphological and behavioural specialization, developmental arrest and infertility. Overall, this study offers new insights into the molecular basis of social aphids and the evolution of insect sociality and also provides valuable data resources for further comparative and functional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental psychologists have long-established socio-cognitive abilities as fundamental to human intelligence and development. These abilities enable individuals to enter, learn from, and contribute to a surrounding culture. This drives the process of cumulative cultural evolution, which is responsible for humanity's most remarkable achievements. AI research on social interactive agentsmostly concerns the emergence of culture in amulti-agent setting (often without a strong grounding in developmental psychology). We argue that AI research should be informed by psychology and study socio-cognitive abilities enabling to enter a culture as well. We draw inspiration fromthe work of Michael Tomasello and Jerome Bruner, who studied socio-cognitive development and emphasized the influence of a cultural environment on intelligence. We outline a broader set of concepts than those currently studied in AI to provide a foundation for research in artificial social intelligence. Those concepts include social cognition (joint attention, perspective taking), communication, social learning, formats, and scaffolding. To facilitate research in this domain, we present The SocialAI school--a tool that offers a customizable parameterized suite of procedurally generated environments. This tool simplifies experimentation with the introduced concepts. Additionally, these environments can be used both with multimodal RL agents, or with pure-text Large Language Models (LLMs) as interactive agents. Through a series of case studies, we demonstrate the versatility of the SocialAI school for studying both RL and LLM-based agents. Our motivation is to engage the AI community around social intelligence informed by developmental psychology, and to provide a user-friendly resource and tool for initial investigations in this direction. Refer to the project website for code and additional resources: https://sites.google.com/view/socialai-school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Study Design Results Conclusions Relevance to Clinical Practice The intensive care unit has structural complexities, and critically ill patients are exposed to disparities. Thus, the intensive care unit can be a potential health disparity setting.This study explored cultural knowledge associated with health disparities in the intensive care unit.This critical ethnographic study was conducted using Carspecken's approach. It was carried out in intensive care units in Western Iran from 2022 to 2023. Data collection and analysis were conducted in three interconnected stages. The initial stage involved over 300 h of field observation. In the subsequent stage, a horizon analysis was performed. Conversations with 17 informants were recorded in the final stage to enrich the dataset further. Then, the analysis process was carried out as in the previous step to uncover an implicit culture of health disparity.This research revealed the following themes: (a) extension of the impact of political, social, and cultural powers, (b) being influenced by individual diversity, (c) balancing services based on the consideration of benefits and consequences, (d) departure from professional behaviour and (e) insufficient organizational discipline.The findings of this study showed that individual diversity, political, social and cultural powers within a context of insufficient organizational discipline, and departure from professional behaviour influence the service delivery culture in the intensive care unit. Moreover, the benefits and consequences of service delivery impact its execution. These stereotypes have the potential to contribute to the emergence of health disparities. Cultural transformation is challenging because of deep‐rooted stereotypes, but the reduction of disparities is possible through awareness, critical self‐reflection and cultural competence.The findings of this research can prompt staff self‐reflection in situations prone to disparities. Health leaders can use these findings to shape health policies at both macro and micro levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The media supporting selected mammalian preimplantation embryos in vitro have played an essential role in the advancement of assisted reproductive technology (ART). ART has in turn transformed biomedical research with genetically modified, disease-specific animal models, agriculture with genetically modified farm animals and human reproductive health with infertility treatment. However, the current culture systems still cannot replicate the in vivo environment, and embryos derived from in vitro systems are poor in quality compared to their in vivo counterparts. The objective of this review is to discuss the lineage of chemically defined media from simple salt solutions to modern media commonly used in embryo cultures for laboratory animals (mice and rats) and farm animals (pigs and cattle) and provide some insights for future improvements. This discussion provides readers with knowledge regarding the evolution of media used to support the development of preimplantation embryos in vitro and aims to inspire interest in the development of media to better support embryo development in vitro. Assisted reproductive technology has revolutionized our ability to genetically manipulate, maintain and rederive laboratory animals of biomedical importance; manipulate animal reproduction or genetics to boost production of farm animals; and improve human reproductive health. The media for in vitro manipulation and the culture of embryos play a critical role in the development of assisted reproductive technology. In this review, the evolution of culture media supporting embryo development in vitro from selected animal species, laboratory animals (mice and rats) and farm animals (pigs and cattle), will be discussed with a focus on the development of chemically defined media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wulfila (c. 311–c. 383) translated the Bible into Gothic, creating the first literary text in a Germanic language. His biography is contested; his parentage, place of birth, episcopal consecration, and theological position are all disputed. The fourth century saw heated debates about the Trinity, and the Goths were often termed 'Arians', despite the fact that the teachings of the African presbyter Arius (c. 256–336) were not directly transmitted to them. This article notes a rebirth of interest in Wulfila, his mission, and the Gothic Bible, employing the notion that 'Homoian' (a more neutral term than 'Arian') theology was a possible bridge between Catholic monotheism and Gothic polytheism as the starting point for a re-examination of Wulfila's evangelism as both an imperially mandated strategy and the creation of a route into civilization and modernity for the Goths. Christianity was modern and fashionable in the fourth century; Germanic tribes wishing to abandon their status as pagani (rustics) or heathens (heath-dwellers, not civilized city dwellers), viewed conversion as a move 'up'. The Gothic Bible played a role in developing Gothic literacy, but was also a magical object, the first of its kind, a book/roadmap for a people undergoing a great cultural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a clear tension in the neoliberal approach to individualism and freedom. Focusing on the process of individualization and individual self-determination in markets, neoclassical approaches recognize that individuals are committed to social mobility and responsibility to act within market rules on, individual autonomy and the ability to set self-determined goals appear to be limited to market participation. The market is seen as an inherently dynamic system developed over time. According to Hayek, individualism refers to social progress and conformity to society. The aim of this paper is to respectfully examine the apparent inconsistencies and limitations of how individual freedom and choice have been conceptualized by neoliberal thinkers, through an analysis of the works of Hayek and Friedman. Neoliberal policies articulate the notion of free will and question the definition of freedom from a purely economic perspective. By further examining these nuances, the study hopes to reflect on the personal and societal political implications associated with neoliberalism's more limited understanding of self-government and voluntarism. Finally, an examination of balanced perspectives can add to the ongoing discussion on how best to organize social policies that maximize individual dignity and collective well-being in the long run at in a constructive manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel social cognitive learning-based metaheuristic called kids Learning Optimizer (KLO), inspired by the early social learning behavior of kids organized as families in societal setup. In a society, people are organized as family groups (parents and children) where they interact with each other within and outside their family. This interaction plays a vital role in early brain development, mannerisms, and behavioral learning. Early childhood learning is affected by various stimuli in their surroundings at different stages of life (newborn, infant, toddler, pre-school). This idea motivated us to map the decentralized learning concept of families and their interactions into a new algorithm where search agents (individuals) are arranged/organized in families, and they interact with each other at different stages of life to find the optimal solution. The algorithm is tested against 116 challenging benchmark functions including 31 unimodal, 63 multimodal, 14 CEC'2017 functions, and eight constrained functions. The algorithm is compared with 10 state-of-the-art algorithms. Friedman's Mean Rank (FMR) and Wilcoxon rank-sum test (WRS) are used to measure the performance of competing algorithms. In the first two experiments, unimodal and multimodal benchmark functions are used to measure the explorative and exploitative ability of the algorithm. FMR and WRS show KLO outperformed all other algorithms. In the third experiment, the proposed method is tested against 14 CEC'2017 functions and eight constrained functions along with three real life mechanical engineering optimization problems. KLO proved to be better or equivalent to other competing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical and empirical scholars of cultural evolution have traditionally studied social learning strategies, such as conformity, as adaptive strategies to obtain accurate information about the environment, whereas within social psychology there has been a greater focus upon the social consequences of such strategies. Although these two approaches are often used in concert when studying human social learning, we believe the potential social benefits of conformity, and of social learning more broadly, have been overlooked in studies of non‐humans. We review evidence from studies of homophily, imitation, and rapid facial mimicry that suggests that behaving like others affords social benefits to non‐human animals and that behaviour matching may be deployed strategically to increase affiliation. Furthermore, we review studies of conformity in dispersers, and suggest that forgoing personal information or preferences in favour of those of the new group during immigration may be a strategy to facilitate social integration. We therefore propose that the informational and social functions of conformity apply to humans and animals alike. We use this perspective to generate several interesting research questions to inspire work in this field. For example, under what conditions do animals use informational or social conformity and what role does uncertainty play in social learning in immigrant individuals? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the debate on the Fermi paradox, the predominant position is to take the absence of signs of extraterrestrial civilizations (ETCs) as an indication that there probably are no such civilizations. This position is usually justified with the following argument: If there were ETCs, we would expect one or more of them to have thoroughly colonized the galaxy by now; however, our solar system has not been colonized; therefore, ETCs probably do not exist. Two different motives are cited, in this context, as to why a civilization would relentlessly colonize the galaxy, namely the natural tendency to expand and the political need not to be outdone. The aim of the present paper is to call into question this argument and, hence, the position that it supports. I will argue that the cited motives do not constitute inexorable laws of behavior, but can be overridden by cultural factors. Furthermore, I will show that unbridled colonization tends to lead to resource scarcity and violent conflict. Therefore, a civilization has strong reasons to overcome the two motives and refrain from such colonization. My argument will not prove that it is impossible for an ETC to colonize the galaxy. But it will show that such behavior is so improbable that the absence of signs of it cannot be taken as evidence for the non-existence of ETCs. • The absence of signs of extraterrestrial civilizations does not indicate that there are no such civilizations. • A civilization has strong reasons to refrain from colonizing the whole galaxy. • The predominant position on the Fermi paradox fails to take into account cultural evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social learning is common in nature, yet cumulative culture (where knowledge and technology increase in complexity and diversity over time) appears restricted to humans. To understand why, we organized a computer tournament in which programmed entries specified when to learn new knowledge and when to refine (i.e. improve) existing knowledge. The tournament revealed a 'refinement paradox': refined behavior afforded higher payoffs as individuals converged on a small number of successful behavioral variants, but refining did not generally pay. Paradoxically, entries that refined only in certain conditions did best during behavioral improvement, while simple copying entries thrived when refinement levels were high. Cumulative cultural evolution may be rare in part because sophisticated strategies for improving knowledge and technology are initially advantageous, yet complex culture, once achieved, favors conformity, blind imitation and hyper-credulity. Author summary: Although social learning, culture, and traditions are found in animals, why humans seem to be the only species that builds on knowledge and technology over generations is still not fully understood. Here we organized a computer tournament in which programmed entries specified when to learn new knowledge and when to refine (i.e. improve upon) existing knowledge. We found a 'refinement paradox': while using refined behavior was beneficial to individuals, it was not beneficial to be the one doing the refining. Entries that refined selectively, only under limited conditions, did well while refinement levels increased, but once refinement was high simple entries that did not refine thrived. This result might explain why cumulative culture is rare in nature: sophisticated strategies for improving knowledge are initially advantageous, but once complex culture is common it pays to conform to the behavior of others and copy blindly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hamilton's rule provides the cornerstone for our understanding of the evolution of all forms of social behavior, from altruism to spite, across all organisms, from viruses to humans. In contrast to the standard prediction from Hamilton's rule, recent studies have suggested that altruistic helping can be favored even if it does not benefit relatives, as long as it decreases the environmentally induced variance of their reproductive success ("altruistic bet-hedging"). However, previous predictions both rely on an approximation and focus on variance-reducing helping behaviors. We derived a version of Hamilton's rule that fully captures environmental variability. This shows that decreasing (or increasing) the variance in the absolute reproductive success of relatives does not have a consistent effect--it can either favor or disfavor the evolution of helping. We then empirically quantified the effect of helping on the variance in reproductive success across 15 species of cooperatively breeding birds. We found that a) helping did not consistently decrease the variance of reproductive success and often increased it, and b) the mean benefits of helping across environments consistently outweighed other variability components of reproductive success. Altogether, our theoretical and empirical results suggest that the effects of helping on the variability components of reproductive success have not played a consistent or strong role in favoring helping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify the Korean translator of the Collection of Modern Korean Fairy Tales (Chaoxian xiandai tonghuaji 朝鮮現代童話集), published in Shanghai, China in 1936. It examines the significance of the collection’s translation in the context of its relationship with teachers at Inseong School and the publication of the World Fairy Tale Series. Drawing on the prefaces of two fairy tale collections translated by Shao Linsheng and newspaper articles, this study concludes that the Collection of Modern Korean Fairy Tales was translated by the Chinese Shao Linsheng and the Korean Jeong Ja-pyeong, the latter a member of the Young Korean Academy (Heungsadan). The composition of the World Fairy Tale Series by Zhonghua shuju 中華書局, and the Chinese-style illustrations of the Collection of Modern Korean Fairy Tales, indicate the potential for cultural transformation, in which Chinese readers living in a colonial context could domesticate Korean fairy tales. Western stories, mistakenly identified as Korean fairy tales, depict the protagonist overcoming crises and seeking freedom. With these stories, the translator wanted to introduce young readers to the ideals of anti-imperialism and liberation. Thus, the Collection of Modern Korean Fairy Tales indicates that Chinese readers harbored political expectations and a desire for appropriating colonial Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the interplay between religion and culture in Christopher Dawson's philosophy of history and underlines the relevance of his analysis in today's globalized culture, which often shows little interest in religion. The discussion begins by examining observable manifestations of religion within any culture, including religious institutions and the intrinsic transcendent aspects of religion. It then highlights religion's significant impact on cultural evolution, initially as a stabilizing and developmental force and subsequently as a catalyst for cultural renewal. Following this historical analysis, the article addresses the phenomenon of cultural globalization and the diminishing role of religion as a cultural reference point. The conclusion underscores Dawson's perspective that this historically unusual situation will be resolved by individuals who embody the ideals of faith in their lives and effectively convey these values to society and the difference in the way he understands the role of religion in culture and society, not as something functional but as the soul that animates them. The aim of the article is to present concisely and comprehensively Dawson's stance on a central theme in his essays, which has not been covered in other articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the study of Indigenous religions and ethics in the late‐nineteenth and early‐twentieth centuries. Over the past few decades, scholars have grappled with the colonial origins of religious studies. This essay focuses on the history of anthropological scholarship on Indigenous religions and the significance of this work for the growth of the academic study of religious and ethical systems. I first consider scholarship on Indigenous ethical systems produced by theologians and comparative religionists. I next consider how anthropological concepts of cultural relativity offered scholars of religion important tools to broaden and deepen understandings of Indigenous cultures. Finally, I address the limits of these anthropological tools. During this era, scholars increasingly argued that Indigenous cultural traditions were worthy of study; however, the prevailing racialized assumptions contributed to assessments of these ethical systems as inferior to Euro‐American religio‐ethical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals interact both within and between species, sharing common spaces. Animals exhibit cultural behaviours. Animals can influence and learn from each other, including interactions with other species. The co-culture concept suggests that two populations of different species can influence each other's cultures through synchronised activities. Co-culture emphasises cultural adaptations within ecological niches. The concept of 'co-culture' is introduced as a novel framework for understanding the mutual cultural evolution between animal species, including, but not only, humans. It explores the dynamics of interspecies interactions, particularly in how different species influence each other's behavioural and cognitive adaptations. Various instances of interspecies cultural exchange are highlighted, such as the acquisition of medicinal plants from animals resulting in a shared medicinal culture, adaptive behaviours of urban wildlife, and cooperative behaviours between animal species. Co-culture challenges the notion of species-specific culture, underscoring the complexity and interconnectedness of human and animal societies, and between animal societies. Further research into co-culture is advocating and emphasising its implications for conservation, urban planning, and a deeper understanding of animal cognition and behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do human societies have so many taboos, defined here as culturally prohibited activities? In this article, I offer a naturalistic account of the origin and transmission of taboos from an evolutionary anthropological perspective. Drawing from the extensive literature in cognitive science and cultural evolution, I argue that taboos may arise from our tendency to retrospectively attribute causes to misfortunes due to a deterministic worldview, and the imperfect transmission of taboos often leads to the loss of their original utilitarian rationale, making them resemble mere cultural conventions. While this account does not explain all cultural prohibitions in human societies, it provides valuable insights into the psychological and social mechanisms by which many taboos are generated in a bottom‐up fashion. Towards the end of the article, I offer a few implications on the proposed account of taboos and specify some testable predictions that merit further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the book "Wonders and Rarities: The Marvelous Book That Traveled the World and Mapped the Cosmos" by Travis Zadeh. The book explores the concept of wonders and rarities and provides examples of things considered wondrous and rare. It focuses on the life and work of ʿImād al-Dīn Zakariyyāʾ al-Kammūnī al-Qazwīnī, particularly his natural history book "ʿAjāʾib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʾib al-mawjūdāt" (Wonders of Things Created and Rarities of Matters Existent). The book is divided into three parts, discussing Qazwīnī's influences, his study of natural philosophy, and the dissemination of his work in manuscript and print. The article also touches on the transformation and reception of Qazwīnī's work in the modern era. [Extracted from the article]

In Canada, in the early 2000s, the decriminalization of cannabis for recreational use seemed imminent. Between 2003 and 2005, three government decriminalization bills were introduced in the Canadian House of Commons, but none were adopted, and decriminalization efforts were abandoned. Subsequently, Canada went beyond decriminalization and legalized recreational cannabis in 2018. This paper examines why the Canadian decriminalization efforts failed, using the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and ACF policy change theory. Three ACF-based hypotheses to explain the failed reform attempts are developed and investigated, but none are empirically supported. A fourth hypothesis is developed using information processing insights from Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET) but adapted to the ACF. This hypothesis is empirically supported showing that Canada's decriminalization efforts failed, despite a supportive advocacy coalition, favourable conditions in the cannabis policy subsystem and favourable conditions in the Canadian political system, because its systemic advocates did not give it priority relative to other issues from other subsystems. This finding has implications for ACF policy change theory, identifying a necessary condition for major policy change that has been potentially overlooked, and illustrates the potential for cross-fertilization between PET and ACF theories of policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the significance of effective communication in Christian leadership, particularly when engaging with younger generations. The author, Pavel Eder, shares his personal experience of discovering faith and establishing a Christian youth group in the Czech Republic. The article emphasizes the challenges of leading young people in a post-Christian society and the importance of understanding their cultural background. It highlights the value of active listening, dialogue, and gradually introducing the Gospel in communication and leadership. The text also emphasizes the role of digital engagement and online presence in church-planting strategies, particularly for Generation Z. However, it acknowledges the potential feelings of isolation and loneliness that Generation Z may experience despite the connectivity of the digital age. The article stresses the need for authenticity, transparency, and a presence on active platforms to create a safe space for communication. It also addresses the difficulties of preaching to a post-Christian audience and the significance of contextualizing the Gospel message. The text concludes by emphasizing the transformative power of communication and the importance for Christian leaders to listen to younger generations and make the Gospel message relevant and meaningful to them. [Extracted from the article]

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Copyright of Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie ( KZfSS) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research highlights the crucial role of design in tracing cultural transformation and its implications for national identity, particularly in the context of Indonesia-China bilateral relations. Design, as a reflection of culture, embodies the values, beliefs, and aesthetics of a nation. The objectives of this research are to (1) explore the role of design in cultural transformation, (2) analyze the influence of bilateral relations on design, (3) assess national identity in design, (4) identify design innovations for cultural diplomacy, and (5) investigate cultural dissemination through design. This study employs a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data were collected through literature review, document analysis, and in-depth interviews with design experts, cultural scholars, and government officials from Indonesia and China. The results reveal that bilateral relations between Indonesia and China have led to significant cultural transformations in design. Cultural exchange and design collaboration have produced innovative works that incorporate elements from both countries. This transformation has influenced the national identities of both countries by strengthening the sense of unity, increasing tolerance and intercultural understanding, and creating new opportunities for cultural diplomacy and bilateral cooperation. The conclusion of this research is that design is not only a tool to reflect culture but also a bridge to strengthen cooperation and understanding between cultures. In the context of Indonesia-China relations, design holds great potential to build a more harmonious and inclusive future for both nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural change is often positioned as central to transformation within the Australian Public Service (APS). The ongoing focus on cultural change suggests it has not yet been realised, which is unsurprising, given it is so difficult to change. However, cultural change may also be impeded due to the way it is portrayed within the APS. This article draws on the work of Schein to identify three problems with how organisational culture and cultural change are portrayed in the APS, including the focus on a unified APS culture, the simplistic way in which culture is portrayed, and the general and high‐level claims for how to achieve cultural change. It provides three recommendations for how these problems can be addressed, including focusing on high‐level principles for conduct across the APS (rather than a unified APS culture), focusing on cultural evolution at the department, agency, and subunit levels, and supporting cultural evolution through establishing mechanisms for behavioural change. Adopting this approach could enable the APS to realise desired changes and enable success of the Albanese Government's APS reform agenda. Points for practitioners: Cultural change is difficult to achieve due to culture being deeply embedded, underpinned by a stable system of values, beliefs, and assumptions.Change could be realised within the APS through focusing on cultural evolution, rather than cultural change—specifically at the department, agency, and subunit levels where there is some compatibility between existing and desired cultures.Cultural evolution requires the identification of the specific behaviours required for effective change, followed by a reconfiguration of a range of mechanisms required to embed and reinforce behavioural change.Leaders play a central role in facilitating behavioural change and cultural evolution, but doing this effectively may require leadership cognitive shifts; therefore, leaders need support and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research emphasizes how organizational culture can hinder organizational adaptation. In this study, we investigate how organizational culture can help promote organizational adaptation to environmental changes, using a formal model from cultural evolution theory. In the model, organizational members face a trade-off between innovating versus following tradition (because environmental changes are uncertain). Members can also decide to help others who are following the tradition, thereby improving its diffusion. Organizational leaders shape the culture of their organization, which influences members' decisions to choose innovation or tradition or to help others following tradition. Culture comprises two dimensions: beliefs and prosocial values. We find that increasing the accuracy of beliefs leads to improvements in both innovation and following tradition, thereby mitigating the trade-off between them and boosting adaptation and performance. On prosocial values, we find that increasing their intensity reduces the cost of following tradition but at the expense of reduced adaptation, resulting in an inverted-U relationship between intensity of prosocial values and performance. Overall, we show how leaders can fine-tune the dimensions of organizational culture to foster improvements in adaptation and performance. The formal model we introduce is novel to the literature and offers a way of studying adaptation to a changing environment and to incorporate social learning into models of adaptation under bounded rationality. Funding: J. Poblete was supported by Instituto Sistemas Complejos de Ingenieria [Grant ANID PIA/PUENTE AFB230002]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.16791. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article, titled "Eleven Close-Up Views on the Japanese Imaginary," by Rodica Frenţiu, explores various perspectives on the Japanese culture and its imaginary. The book focuses on significant authors throughout different ages and analyzes their works to understand their individual literary and cultural views. The author uses a methodology that combines close reading and distant reading to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Japanese imaginary. The book also discusses topics such as translation, culinary traditions, and cross-cultural interactions. Overall, the article offers a unique and insightful exploration of the Japanese culture and its diverse perspectives. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to investigate the cognitive mechanisms of rural residents amidst the renewal of suburban historical and cultural villages by examining the interplay between nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity in rural tourism destinations. Using Naobao Village as a case study—a suburban historical and cultural village in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia—this research employs a comprehensive approach integrating experimental methods and questionnaire surveys. The findings demonstrate that analyzing the interaction among the four emotions can elucidate the cognitive mechanism of residents. Moreover, it uncovers that positive tourism effects significantly influence residents' perception of their living environment with positive effects on collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity. In the theoretical model for generating cognition among residents in suburban historical and cultural villages, subjective well-being and collective memory play crucial mediating roles. This study offers a novel perspective for spatial reconstruction and cultural evolution of tourist landscapes in suburban rural tourist destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a systemic and historical view of wars taking into account the generalization of modern concepts about their nature and causes. The generalization is produced on the basis of a political and sociological apparatus with such basic concepts as: "concerns" of different types (including "interests", "motives", "goals", "values"), an extension of the challenge-response scheme (A. Toynbee), positive and negative "reinforcement" (Thorndike-Skinner), and "support structures" (A. Stinchcombe). All the concerns related to wars are based on the social universals of M. Weber and M. Mann: power-security, power-dominance, prestige-dignity-legitimacy, and wealth-resources-access to resources. Geopolitical concerns (regarding control over territories), symbolic stakes, and concerns with maintaining the international order are considered. The prioritization of relevant concerns changes in both the long run of social evolution and the short run of dynamics of interactions. The article considers spiral dynamics as a dynamic model of the cause of unintended wars "that no one wanted." Relevant decisions and actions of rulers and elites related to war are analyzed in the context of fast and slow thinking according to D. Kahneman. The general principles of social interaction and social evolution allow us to judge the conditions that increase and decrease the probability of new wars, as well as the regularities of the dynamics and termination of wars. Empirical generalizations of the characteristics of wars in world history made by modern specialists (S. Van Evera, G. Cashman, etc.) are discussed. It is shown what role wars play in the co-evolution of social, mental, and techno-natural orders, as well as in social evolution in general.

Social behaviours are typically modelled using neighbour-modulated fitness, which focuses on individuals having their fitness altered by neighbours. However, these models are either interpreted using inclusive fitness, which focuses on individuals altering the fitness of neighbours, or not interpreted at all. This disconnect leads to interpretational mistakes and obscures the adaptive significance of behaviour. We bridge this gap by presenting a systematic methodology for constructing inclusive-fitness models. We find a behaviours inclusive-fitness effect by summing primary and secondary deviations in reproductive value. Primary deviations are the immediate result of a social interaction; for example, the cost and benefit of an altruistic act. Secondary deviations are compensatory effects that arise because the total reproductive value of the population is fixed; for example, the increased competition that follows an altruistic act. Compared to neighbour-modulated fitness methodologies, our approach is often simpler and reveals the models inclusive-fitness narrative clearly. We implement our methodology first in a homogeneous population, with supplementary examples of help under synergy, help in a viscous population and Creels paradox. We then implement our methodology in a class-structured population, where the advantages of our approach are most evident, with supplementary examples of altruism between age classes, and sex-ratio evolution.

The process of social evolution and progress and the speed of this evolution depend on many variables, one of which is technology. Some believe that technological advances are changing many aspects of daily life. At present, in many developing countries, including our country, Iran, organisations are showing a great desire to use and use these information technologies. Given that in the future, no factor such as information technology will be able to change the design of organisations. Research in this field will be necessary, so the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of technology introduction on administrative bureaucracies. The statistical population in a small stage includes all employees of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, whose number is 800 people. The sampling method in this study is available. 260 people are using Cochran's formula. Also, to evaluate the variables and measure them in the field, a researcher-made questionnaire has been used. 48.866 and a path coefficient of 0.91 have a significant effect. The introduction of technology has had a significant effect on research strategies in the staff of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance with test statistics of 2.933 and path coefficient of 0.408 and research intervention factors on research strategies in employees of Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance with test statistics of 3.596 The path coefficient has a significant effect of 0.470 and the research factors have a significant effect on research strategies in the staff of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance with Azman statistics of 4.253 and the path coefficient of 0.556. Finally, the introduction of technology to administrative bureaucracy and the path coefficient of 0.843 has a significant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navigating the complexities of nowadays cultural and political landscapes requires acknowledging the significant role emotions play in shaping cultural policy processes. This paper addresses this crucial issue by conducting a thorough examination of two distinct case studies: the EU Creative Europe programme, focusing on cultural participatory practices within the Audience Development (AD) priority, and the city context of Naples, during its "Season of the Commons" from 2012 to 2021. Through these case studies, this research delves into the intricate interplay between emotions, cultural policy, and political dynamics. Drawing from a multidisciplinary framework encompassing sociology, political science, and cultural studies, the analysis offers both theoretical insights and empirical evidence to define the concept of emotional clusters. These clusters represent a form of social adaptation in times of organic crisis, forming the foundation of novel and often unrecognized spaces of resistance that operate within the spectrum between hegemonic and counter-hegemonic realms. This work aims to critically reflect on the role of emotions in the tension between top-down cultural policymaking and bottomup cultural practices by scrutinizing the connection between emotional clusters and the empirical evolution of cultural policy processes. In doing so, it aspires to provide empirical analysis of emotions as a means to comprehend contemporary decision-making procedures in cultural and policy/political dynamics, while suggesting coordinates for viewing cultural policies as a lively political matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemic models study the spread of undesired agents through populations, be it infectious diseases through a country, misinformation in social media or pests infesting a region. In combating these epidemics, we rely neither on global top-down interventions, nor solely on individual adaptations. Instead, interventions commonly come from local institutions such as public health departments, moderation teams on social media platforms or other forms of group governance. Classic models, which are often individual or agent-based, are ill-suited to capture local adaptations. We leverage developments of institutional dynamics based on cultural group selection to study how groups attempt local control of an epidemic by taking inspiration from the successes and failures of other groups. Incorporating institutional changes into epidemic dynamics reveals paradoxes: a higher transmission rate can result in smaller outbreaks as does decreasing the speed of institutional adaptation. When groups perceive a contagion as more worrisome, they can invest in improved policies and, if they maintain these policies long enough to have impact, lead to a reduction in endemicity. By looking at the interplay between the speed of institutions and the transmission rate of the contagions, we find rich coevolutionary dynamics that reflect the complexity of known biological and social contagions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does social complexity depend on population size and cultural transmission? Kinship structures in traditional societies provide a fundamental illustration, where cultural rules between clans determine people's marriage possibilities. Here, we propose a simple model of kinship interactions that considers kin and in-law cooperation and sexual rivalry. In this model, multiple societies compete. Societies consist of multiple families with different cultural traits and mating preferences. These values determine interactions and hence the growth rate of families and are transmitted to offspring with mutations. Through a multilevel evolutionary simulation, family traits and preferences are grouped into multiple clans with interclan mating preferences. It illustrates the emergence of kinship structures as the spontaneous formation of interdependent cultural associations. Emergent kinship structures are characterized by the cycle length of marriage exchange and the number of cycles in society. We numerically and analytically clarify their parameter dependence. The relative importance of cooperation versus rivalry determines whether attraction or repulsion exists between families. Different structures evolve as locally stable attractors. The probabilities of formation and collapse of complex structures depend on the number of families and the mutation rate, showing characteristic scaling relationships. It is now possible to explore macroscopic kinship structures based on microscopic interactions, together with their environmental dependence and the historical causality of their evolution. We propose the basic causal mechanism of the formation of typical human social structures by referring to ethnographic observations and concepts from statistical physics and multilevel evolution. Such interdisciplinary collaboration will unveil universal features in human societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although archaeologists often highlight the capacity of our field to identify broad-scale patterning in human societies, critiques of social evolution led many to focus on shorter-term, local histories. Drawing from a recent review of alternative models, we employ firefly synchronicity – the rhythmic coordination of flashing observed in some species of bioluminescent fireflies – as a model for understanding patterning in the timing of platform mound construction by Indigenous peoples of Tampa Bay, on the western coast of the Florida peninsula, USA. Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates and isotopic studies of oyster shells from three neighbouring sites reveals rhythmic coordination in the construction of platform mounds across the first millennium CE. We relate this patterning to interaction in seasonal and longer-term ritual cycles which may have facilitated collective management of zero-sum common property resources. Firefly synchronicity provides a useful model for identifying patterning in archaeological phenomena without much of the baggage of social evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe rapid increase of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is severely limiting our current treatment possibilities. An important subset of the resistance mechanisms conferring antibiotic resistance have public effects, allowing otherwise susceptible bacteria to also survive antibiotic treatment. As susceptible bacteria can survive treatment without bearing the metabolic cost of producing the resistance mechanism, there is potential to increase their relative frequency in the population and, as such, select against resistant bacteria. Multiple studies showed that this altered selection for resistance is dependent on various environmental and treatment parameters. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of their most important findings and describe the main factors impacting the selection for resistance. In-depth understanding of the driving forces behind selection can aid in the design and implementation of alternative treatments which limit the risk of resistance development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong selection on complex traits can lead to skewed trait means and reduced trait variability in populations. An example of this phenomenon can be evidenced in allele frequency changes and skewed trait distributions driven by persistent human-directed selective pressures in domesticated species. Dog domestication is linked to several genomic variants; however, the functional impacts of these variants may not always be straightforward when found in non-coding regions of the genome. Four polymorphic transposable elements (TE) found within non-coding sites along a 5 Mb region on canine CFA6 have evolved due to directional selection associated with heightened human-directed hyper-sociability in domesticated dogs. We found that the polymorphic TE in intron 17 of the canine GTF2I gene, which was previously reported to be negatively correlated with canid human-directed hyper-sociability, is associated with altered chromatin looping and hence distinct cis-regulatory landscapes. We reported supporting evidence of an E2F1-DNA binding peak concordant with the altered loop and higher expression of GTF2I exon 18, indicative of alternative splicing. Globally, we discovered differences in pathways regulating the extra-cellular matrix with respect to TE copy number. Overall, we reported evidence suggesting an intriguing molecular convergence between the emergence of hypersocial behaviors in dogs and the same genes that, when hemizygous, produce human Williams Beuren Syndrome characterized by cranio-facial defects and heightened social behaviors. Our results additionally emphasize the often-overlooked potential role of chromatin architecture in social evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social network analysis of animal societies allows scientists to test hypotheses about social evolution, behaviour, and dynamic processes. However, the accuracy of estimated metrics depends on data characteristics like sample proportion, sample size, and frequency. A protocol is needed to assess for bias and robustness of social network metrics estimated for the animal populations especially when a limited number of individuals are monitored. Methods: We used GPS telemetry datasets of five ungulate species to combine known social network approaches with novel ones into a comprehensive five-step protocol. To quantify the bias and uncertainty in the network metrics obtained from a partial population, we presented novel statistical methods which are particularly suited for autocorrelated data, such as telemetry relocations. The protocol was validated using a sixth species, the fallow deer, with a known population size where ∼ 85 % of the individuals have been directly monitored. Results: Through the protocol, we demonstrated how pre-network data permutations allow researchers to assess non-random aspects of interactions within a population. The protocol assesses bias in global network metrics, obtains confidence intervals, and quantifies uncertainty of global and node-level network metrics based on the number of nodes in the network. We found that global network metrics like density remained robust even with a lowered sample size, while local network metrics like eigenvector centrality were unreliable for four of the species. The fallow deer network showed low uncertainty and bias even at lower sampling proportions, indicating the importance of a thoroughly sampled population while demonstrating the accuracy of our evaluation methods for smaller samples. Conclusions: The protocol allows researchers to analyse GPS-based radio-telemetry or other data to determine the reliability of social network metrics. The estimates enable the statistical comparison of networks under different conditions, such as analysing daily and seasonal changes in the density of a network. The methods can also guide methodological decisions in animal social network research, such as sampling design and allow more accurate ecological inferences from the available data. The R package aniSNA enables researchers to implement this workflow on their dataset, generating reliable inferences and guiding methodological decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic factors are known to shape the expression of social behaviours. Likewise, variation in social behaviour can dictate climate responses. Understanding interactions between climate and sociality is crucial for forecasting vulnerability and resilience to climate change across animal taxa. These interactions are particularly relevant for taxa like bees that exhibit a broad diversity of social states. An emerging body of literature aims to quantify bee responses to environmental change with respect to variation in key functional traits, including sociality. Additionally, decades of research on environmental drivers of social evolution may prove fruitful for predicting shifts in the costs and benefits of social strategies under climate change. In this review, we explore these findings to ask two interconnected questions: (a) how does sociality mediate vulnerability to climate change, and (b) how might climate change impact social organisation in bees? We highlight traits that intersect with bee sociality that may confer resilience to climate change (e.g. extended activity periods, diet breadth, behavioural thermoregulation) and we generate predictions about the impacts of climate change on the expression and distribution of social phenotypes in bees. The social evolutionary consequences of climate change will be complex and heterogeneous, depending on such factors as local climate and plasticity of social traits. Many contexts will see an increase in the frequency of eusocial nesting as warming temperatures accelerate development and expand the temporal window for rearing a worker brood. More broadly, climate‐mediated shifts in the abiotic and biotic selective environments will alter the costs and benefits of social living in different contexts, with cascading impacts at the population, community and ecosystem levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are the most diverse group of organisms in the animal kingdom, and some species exhibit complex social behaviors. Although research on insect object use is still in its early stages, insects have already been shown to display rich object‐use behaviors. This review focuses on patterns and behavioral flexibility in insect object‐use behavior, and the role of cultural evolution in the development of object‐use behaviors. Object use in insects is not widespread but has been documented in a diverse set of taxa. Some insects can use objects flexibly and display various object‐use patterns. Like mammals and birds, insects use objects in diverse activities, including foraging, predator defense, courtship, and play. Intelligence, pre‐existing manipulative behaviors, and anatomical structure affect innovations in object use. In addition, learning and imitation are the main mechanisms underlying the spread of object‐use behaviors within populations. Given that insects are one of the major animal groups engaging in object use, studies of insect object use could provide general insights into object use in the animal kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within governance agencies, academia, and communities alike, there are increasing calls to recognize the value and importance of culture within social‐ecological systems and to better implement Indigenous sciences in research, policy, and management. Efforts thus far have raised questions about the best ethical practices to do so. Engaging with plural worldviews and perspectives on their own terms reflects cultural evolutionary processes driving paradigm shifts in 3 fundamental areas of natural resource management: conceptualizations of natural resources and ecosystems, processes of public participation and governance, and relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities with differing worldviews. We broadly describe evolution toward these paradigm shifts in fish and wildlife management. We then use 3 case studies to illustrate the ongoing cultural evolution of relationships between wildlife management and Indigenous practices within specific historical and social‐ecological contexts and reflect on common barriers to appropriately engaging with Indigenous paradigms and lifeways. Our case studies highlight 3 priorities that can assist the field of wildlife management in achieving the changes necessary to bridge incommensurable worldviews: acknowledging and reconciling historical legacies and their continued power dynamics as part of social‐ecological systems, establishing governance arrangements that move beyond attempts to extract cultural information from communities to integrate Indigenous Knowledges into dominant management paradigms, and engaging in critical reflexivity and reciprocal, accountable relationship building. Implementing these changes will take time and a commitment to processes that may initially feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar but have potential to be transformative. Ethical and culturally appropriate methods to include plural and multivocal perspectives and worldviews on their own terms are needed to transform wildlife management to achieve more effective and just management outcomes for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the role of intuitive theories in the cultural evolution of moral cognition, integrating recent work across subfields of psychology and suggesting directions for future research. Focusing on intuitive theories in the moral domain concerning how people judge the moral value of actions and make inferences about moral character, we review evidence that the specific forms these theories take vary across individuals and can change via social learning. We propose that cultural selection can operate over the intuitive theories people apply in the moral domain, in which particular variants of intuitive moral theories can be more "successful" to the extent that they are cognitively efficient or provide reputational benefits. Finally, we explore some implications of considering moral cognition as a kind of cultural technology that can be innovated, considering whether intuitive moral theories help or hinder our ability to improve our collective moral norms or practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This literature review focuses on cultural-related studies and game theory. First of all, it analyzes how social dynamics and strategic interactions can be shaped by different cultural environments. Secondly, it examines how cultural norms can affect strategic decision making and how game theory could predict cooperations and conflicts. Overall, this study aims to highlight the applicability of game theory in the modeling of cultural transformation and its interaction with behavioral economics. Moreover, this study also attempts to underscore the significance of game theory and cultural diversity in communication methods, plus the process of policy formulation. In addition to the above topics, the robustness of cross-cultural social norms, the economic study of different cultural heritage, and the cultural effects of tourism under game theory are also focal points of this study. Finally, this review delves into how game theory can represent social interactions, emphasizing the need to incorporate extensive cultural knowledge in order to enhance the efficacy of game-theoretic model's applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to and avoidance of stress slow aging and confer increased longevity in numerous organisms. Honey bees and other superorganismal social insects have two main advantages over solitary species to avoid or resist stress: individuals can directly help each other by resource or information transfer, and they can cooperatively control their environment. These benefits have been recognised in the context of pathogen and parasite stress as the concept of social immunity, which has been extensively studied. However, we argue that social immunity is only a special case of a general concept that we define here as social stress protection to include group‐level defences against all biotic and abiotic stressors. We reason that social stress protection may have allowed the evolution of reduced individual‐level defences and individual life‐history optimization, including the exceptional aging plasticity of many social insects. We describe major categories of stress and how a colonial lifestyle may protect social insects, particularly against temporary peaks of extreme stress. We use the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) to illustrate how patterns of life expectancy may be explained by social stress protection and how modern beekeeping practices can disrupt social stress protection. We conclude that the broad concept of social stress protection requires rigorous empirical testing because it may have implications for our general understanding of social evolution and specifically for improving honey bee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewilding is regularly connected to re-enchantment. In some rewilding projects, ecological restoration merges with narratives of wonder, enchantment and spirituality. While rewilding's association with re-enchantment appears as part of its appeal, it is also criticised as anthropocentric, escapist or naive. This article aims to formulate a thorough conceptual understanding of rewilding as re-enchantment by situating it within the critical framework of (dis)enchantment developed in the early 20th century by Weber and Horkheimer and Adorno. Connecting this framework to contemporary, phenomenologically inspired accounts of enchantment and critiques on the mechanisation of nature, this article aims towards a new perspective on rewilding as a critical discursive practice of re-enchantment. Rewilding, like re-enchantment, can be seen as a valuable attempt to formulate alternatives to the modern paradigm and programme of disenchantment. Situating rewilding within a broader cultural context and historical perspective, this approach allows for assessing rewilding as part of modern (counter-)culture at large. Moreover, through a detailed account of (re-)enchantment in rewilding on a phenomenological, theoretical and relational level, this article gradually develops a conceptual understanding of re-enchantment as a valuable concept for ecological restoration and cultural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important signs that can be seen in the fundamental traditions of the world in the transition stage of a person to individuality is [passing through] a horizontal or vertical winding corridor (well/cave); a dark place full of fear and terror due to not being seen and unknown. Monsters, snakes and creatures of the underworld live in this place and can only be saved by fighting. Sometimes, in the depth of this scary place, there are obstacles that appear to be rewards or anything else pleasant, but the same object or situation, by creating suspense, is itself considered a test stage and sometimes an obstacle to victory. He will be a hero. In this article, the examples of suspension with the repeating pattern of "Hanging Man" in public and official literature of Iran and the world will be investigated. The result of the work shows that this image is rooted in the common essence of human attitude in facing life difficulties and according to the time and place of life and the type of human being, it is powerful in literature, culture and religion, art, politics and economy. It has continued its life. This image, influenced by the experience of disaster, which is the function of the human mind, and despite the cultural evolution of the human species, has not been removed from his mind, and was first reflected in the form of materialistic myths and rituals, and in modern times, by entering formal or general literary types, it has found a different function and created special literary types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many pseudosciences, conspiracy theories and other unfounded belief systems have a self‐sealing nature, being equipped with defence mechanisms and immunizing strategies that protect them against counterevidence and criticism. In this article, we discuss the existence of 'epistemic black holes', belief systems which posit intelligent agents that are deliberately evading detection and thus sabotaging any investigation into their existence. These belief systems have the remarkable feature that they predict an absence of evidence in their favour, and even the discovery of counterevidence. The most obvious instances of such epistemic black holes are unfounded conspiracy theories, but examples crop up in other domains as well. We outline the development and cultural evolution of epistemic black holes, drawing from a number of case studies. Most importantly, because of their self‐sealing character and resilience to counterevidence, epistemic black holes suffer from a recurring problem of arbitrariness and proliferating alternatives. Shedding light on how epistemic black holes function can help to inoculate people against their enduring allure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]