biohistory

An approach to human ecology which stresses the interplay between biophysical and cultural processes. Its starting point is the study of the history of life on earth, and of the basic principles of evolution, ecology, and physiology, and of the sensitivities of ecosystems and living organisms. It then considers the biology and innate sensitivities of humans, the emergence of the human aptitude for culture, and its biological significance. It is particularly concerned with the interplay between cultural processes and biophysical systems, such as ecosystems and human populations.