Coevolution, Symbiosis and Sociology

Most sociological analyses adhere to the Western bifurcation of nature and culture, hampering analyses of ecology. Pressing ecological crises invite sociologists to engage with ecology in new ways. This commentary explores how sociologists might utilize coevolutionary theory to explore the complex intra-actions of matter, culture and sociality. My research suggests that bacteria are a superb example of coevolutionary processes within the biosphere. Through symbiosis, bacteria effectively challenge the conception of autonomous individual organisms interacting with their environment, the salience of humans in biospheric regulation, and collapse the distinction between nature and culture. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.