LEVYNA researcher Radek Kundt is both editor and contributor to a new book published by Springer exploring the complex interplay between biology and culture. Culture Evolving: Bridging Life Sciences and Humanities brings together perspectives from philosophy and history of science, anthropology, archaeology, behavioural science, and evolutionary biology to examine how evolutionary principles can help us understand the dynamics of culture.
Radek joined the interdisciplinary team of scholars to shape anthropological and archaeological contributions. Read the book on Springer
For readers interested in religion, we especially recommend the open-access chapter by Terezie Dvořáčková, Eva Kundtová Klocová, and Radek Kundt, Appreciating Culture in Human Mating and Parenting Research: The Reproductive Functions of Religious Systems. The chapter examines the fitness benefits of various religious practices in relation to mating strategies, including childbearing and childrearing. Read the open-access chapter on Springer
Religious practices can be costly in terms of time and effort, and these costs can make them useful signals of commitment to a religious community. But this creates a puzzle: if costly religious signals bring social benefits, why don’t less committed people simply imitate them and enjoy the benefits of cooperation?
We are delighted to share that two members of the LEVYNA team have recently received major awards recognizing their outstanding research.
