White, Leslie Alvin
Published: December 15, 2006, 5:22 pm
Updated: December 15, 2006, 5:22 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
David Casagrande
Leslie Alvin White
Leslie Alvin White (1900-1975), an American anthropologist best known for his ideas about the role of energy technology in cultural evolution. In The Science of Culture (1949) and The Evolution of Culture (1959), he describes the effects of technology in energy terms: “culture evolves as the amount of energy harnessed per capita per year is increased, or as the efficiency of the instrumental means of putting the energy to work is increased." He viewed increasing energy use as a principal driver of not only material wealth, but also the norms and values that shape society. In this way, he was an important intellectual precursor to the schools of biophysical and ecological economics that would develop in the late 20th century.
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);David Casagrande (Topic Editor) "White, Leslie Alvin". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth December 15, 2006; Last revised Date December 15, 2006; Retrieved May 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/White,_Leslie_Alvin>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Leslie Alvin White
Leslie Alvin White (1900-1975), an American anthropologist best known for his ideas about the role of energy technology in cultural evolution. In The Science of Culture (1949) and The Evolution of Culture (1959), he describes the effects of technology in energy terms: “culture evolves as the amount of energy harnessed per capita per year is increased, or as the efficiency of the instrumental means of putting the energy to work is increased." He viewed increasing energy use as a principal driver of not only material wealth, but also the norms and values that shape society. In this way, he was an important intellectual precursor to the schools of biophysical and ecological economics that would develop in the late 20th century.
Further Reading
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