EPISODE 54 / May 19, 2026

CES & HBES 2026 mini-episode

Dave Pietraszewski & David Pinsof·15 min·4 sections

Evolutionary theory Cultural evolution Methods & scientific debate Human origins

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Audio from the publisher. Timestamps reference the archived recording.

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The conversation, in brief.

In this mini-episode, hosts Dave Pietraszewski and David Pinsof celebrate their podcast's one-year anniversary from the Human Behavior and Evolution Society Conference in Rabat, Morocco. Joined by guests including Brett Beheim and Brian Wood, they reflect on conference highlights, such as Stephen Vasey's plenary on the institutional growth of evolutionary social sciences. The participants explore whether cultural evolution should operate as an independent discipline or a cross-disciplinary toolkit, drawing historical parallels to the Modern Synthesis in biology. Furthermore, they discuss the current fragmentation of social science compared to evolutionary biology and highlight the historic milestone of hosting the HBES conference on the African continent for the first time.

QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND

How does the historical Modern Synthesis in biology parallel current institutional developments in cultural evolution?
In what ways does modern social science differ from evolutionary biology in terms of conceptual unity?
What is the significance of hosting the Human Behavior and Evolution Society Conference in Africa for the first time?
Should cultural evolution function as an independent discipline or as a set of cross-disciplinary techniques?

Ideas to take with you.

Hosts Dave Pietraszewski and David Pinsof celebrate their podcast's one-year anniversary while attending the HBES conference in Rabat, Morocco. 0:01
Stephen Vasey delivered a plenary talk from a sociology perspective examining the institutional growth of evolutionary social sciences. 3:56
Participants draw a parallel between cultural evolution's growth and the historical Modern Synthesis where fragmented biological disciplines coalesced. 10:15
Dave Pietraszewski notes that contemporary social science currently lacks the conceptual unity seen in evolutionary biology. 12:45
Anthropologist Brian Wood and colleagues highlight the historic significance of the HBES conference taking place on the African continent. 13:35

Through the conversation.

4 sections

0:00 – 3:18

Anniversary and Reflections at HBES Conference

Hosts Dave Pietraszewski and David Pinsof celebrate their podcast's one-year anniversary while attending the Human Behavior and Evolution Society Conference in Rabat, Morocco. They discuss meeting listeners, the vibrant exchange of ideas at the conference, and highlight plenary speaker Hanako Kokko.

Evolutionary theory Cultural evolution

we are in Rabat, which is the capital of Morocco

“We are in Rabat, which is the capital of Morocco.” 0:01

this week is our one-year anniversary of uploading episodes

“this uh week is our one-year anniversary of uh of uploading uh episodes” 0:05

3:21 – 12:00

Disciplinary Growth and the Modern Synthesis in Social Science

Guest Brett Beheim joins the hosts to discuss a plenary talk by Stephen Vasey on the institutional growth of cultural evolution. They explore whether cultural evolution should function as an independent discipline or a set of cross-disciplinary techniques, drawing parallels to the historical Modern Synthesis in biology.

Evolutionary theory Cultural evolution Methods & scientific debate

Stephen Vasey presented a meta-plenary coming from a sociology perspective about the growth of institutions in evolutionary social sciences

“one of the plenaries by Stephen Vasey that was um kind of a meta plenary” 3:56

there is a parallel with the modern synthesis where fragmented biological disciplines coalesced around a unified conceptual framework

“I think there's a parallel here with the modern synthesis actually.” 10:15

12:01 – 12:54

The Need for a Modern Synthesis in Social Science

Dave Pietraszewski and David Pinsof discuss the historical success of the modern synthesis in evolutionary biology, driven by unified modeling frameworks and empirical integration. They contrast this with the fragmented state of current social science, arguing that a similar conceptual unity is urgently needed.

Evolutionary theory Methods & scientific debate

Dave Pietraszewski argues that social science currently lacks the conceptual unity seen in evolutionary biology.

“Social science looks nothing like that right now.” 12:45

12:54 – 14:19

Global Growth and Historic Milestones for HBES in Africa

The speakers reflect on recent international research perspectives, followed by contributions from anthropologist Brian Wood and other participants celebrating the HBES conference taking place in Africa for the first time, highlighting the society's global expansion.

Cultural evolution Human origins

Brian Wood and colleagues discuss the significance of hosting HBES on the African continent and its future impact.

“Well I'd just like to say that as the first HBES to take place on the continent of Africa” 13:35