Question

What are the four scalar categories of Human societies and how is each defined? Describe one reason this is a helpful framework and one reason that this is a problematic framework.

Answer 1

The four scalar categories of human societies are band, tribe, chiefdom, and state. Each category is defined based on subsistence patterns and political systems. One reason this framework is helpful is that it allows for comparative study and understanding of social development.

Step-by-step explanation:

The four scalar categories of human societies are band, tribe, chiefdom, and state. Each of these categories is defined based on the subsistence patterns and political systems associated with them. Bands are small, mobile groups that rely on gathering and hunting for survival. Tribes are larger, settled communities that practice horticulture. Chiefdoms have a centralized leadership and are supported by agricultural surplus. States are complex societies with multiple modes of subsistence, military conquest, and extensive trade. One reason this framework is helpful is that it provides a way to categorize and analyze different types of societies, allowing for comparative study and understanding of social development. However, one problem with this framework is that it simplifies complex social realities and can overlook the diversity and complexity within each category.