Cultural relativism vs. cultural evolution?

Question

How do you feel about using word "evolution" when describing a culture. After all culture is a merge of language, religion, biology etc., so can we say that cultures "evolve"?

Answer 1

The term cultural evolution may have connotations of superiority to some. For example, it could imply that bands are in some way inferior to a more highly stratified chiefdom. Also, the term could imply that a society in an industrialized state is "better" in some way than the chiefdom or band. Obviously, cultures do change and evolve, however to some the term could be evidence of a judgment being made by its user, which of course does not coincide with the idea of cultural relativism. On the other hand, the term evolution can also have a meaning akin to biological evolution where an organism may change and grow more complex, but not necessarily "improve".

Answer 2

We certainly may, and we certainly do!

Cultures do evolve and have been doing so since men lived in caves. Cultural evolution is an anthropological paradigm proved time and time again. By the way,  your definition of culture is pretty good, but don't forget: oral history, myths and legends, etc.

Answer 3

words are words.