Tim Waring
@twaring.bsky.social
I study the evolution of human culture with a focus on environmental behaviors and institutions and an eye toward helping these become more sustainable on a single, limited planet. https://timwaring.info/
Thus, cultural adaptation does not simply reduce the role of genetic adaptation, it also increases our reliance on group-level cultural systems and infrastructure such as hospitals 🏥, schools 🏫 and governments 🏛️.
September 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Thus, cultural adaptation does not simply reduce the role of genetic adaptation, it also increases our reliance on group-level cultural systems and infrastructure such as hospitals 🏥, schools 🏫 and governments 🏛️.
We argue that a long-term shift in inheritance from genes to culture would also cause a shift in human organization, or ‘individuality’ from individuals to groups, via a simple feedback process:
September 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
We argue that a long-term shift in inheritance from genes to culture would also cause a shift in human organization, or ‘individuality’ from individuals to groups, via a simple feedback process:
Just arrived at the hostel with my best friend, wife and traveler extraordinaire (same person, pictured). Arusha, Tanzania.
June 21, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Just arrived at the hostel with my best friend, wife and traveler extraordinaire (same person, pictured). Arusha, Tanzania.
Oh my god, you’re right! Here’s mine. “There are no apples in Damascus”…
April 24, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Oh my god, you’re right! Here’s mine. “There are no apples in Damascus”…
Paddled in the Kenduskeag stream canoe race today. A great Maine celebration of almost spring. Boat decorations:
April 19, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Paddled in the Kenduskeag stream canoe race today. A great Maine celebration of almost spring. Boat decorations:
A happy atmosphere at the community polling place this morning. Many friendly volunteers helping people to register and vote.
I feel so lucky to be part of a political system where we peacefully express our beliefs and preferences, and put them all together to shape the future of society!
I feel so lucky to be part of a political system where we peacefully express our beliefs and preferences, and put them all together to shape the future of society!
November 5, 2024 at 1:05 PM
A happy atmosphere at the community polling place this morning. Many friendly volunteers helping people to register and vote.
I feel so lucky to be part of a political system where we peacefully express our beliefs and preferences, and put them all together to shape the future of society!
I feel so lucky to be part of a political system where we peacefully express our beliefs and preferences, and put them all together to shape the future of society!
Plotting the intensity of cooperation within society (y-axis) over the spatial scale of environmental control (x-axis) is useful. Global sustainability requires Path A (right). But, under global collective challenges, competition between societies favors Path B (up, left).
14/n
14/n
November 22, 2023 at 3:01 AM
Plotting the intensity of cooperation within society (y-axis) over the spatial scale of environmental control (x-axis) is useful. Global sustainability requires Path A (right). But, under global collective challenges, competition between societies favors Path B (up, left).
14/n
14/n
But how has this evolutionary ratchet interacted with and been shaped by the environment?
We suspected that evolution has tended to favor ever larger and more extractive groups.
To test this idea, we reviewed the evolution of the human ecological niche (Table 1).
5/n
We suspected that evolution has tended to favor ever larger and more extractive groups.
To test this idea, we reviewed the evolution of the human ecological niche (Table 1).
5/n
November 22, 2023 at 2:50 AM
But how has this evolutionary ratchet interacted with and been shaped by the environment?
We suspected that evolution has tended to favor ever larger and more extractive groups.
To test this idea, we reviewed the evolution of the human ecological niche (Table 1).
5/n
We suspected that evolution has tended to favor ever larger and more extractive groups.
To test this idea, we reviewed the evolution of the human ecological niche (Table 1).
5/n
(1) How did the Anthropocene evolve?
Theory and evidence suggest that human evolution has been dominated by a ratcheting evolutionary feedback between the adaptive value of cultural traits and the proliferation of culturally organized groups.
3/n
Theory and evidence suggest that human evolution has been dominated by a ratcheting evolutionary feedback between the adaptive value of cultural traits and the proliferation of culturally organized groups.
3/n
November 22, 2023 at 2:49 AM
(1) How did the Anthropocene evolve?
Theory and evidence suggest that human evolution has been dominated by a ratcheting evolutionary feedback between the adaptive value of cultural traits and the proliferation of culturally organized groups.
3/n
Theory and evidence suggest that human evolution has been dominated by a ratcheting evolutionary feedback between the adaptive value of cultural traits and the proliferation of culturally organized groups.
3/n