Notes on technology and the moral order

The Advanced Studies Series • Vol/Iss. n.a. • Bobbs-Merrill • Indianapolis • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Gouldner, Alvin W., Peterson, Richard A.

Hypothesis

Findings: Factor T, "Level of Technology", with its stress on pottery and grain for food is suggestive of neolithic technology. The two heaviest positive loadings (oblimax rotation) were noted above. Other heavy positive loadings are: mining and smelting, prevalence of war, basketry, money, weaving, herding, agriculture, domesticated animals other than herded. Highest negative loadings are: warm climate, legendary heroes, fishing, and patrilocal residence (25)

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Factor analysisSupportedNot ApplicableUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
AgricultureUNKNOWNAgriculture
BasketryUNKNOWNMats And Basketry
Domesticated Animals Other Than HerdedUNKNOWNDomesticated Animals
Factor: Level Of TechnologyUNKNOWNProduction And Supply
Grain For FoodUNKNOWNCereal Agriculture
HerdingUNKNOWNAnimal Husbandry
Legendary HeroesUNKNOWNLiterature
Mining And Smelting Of MetalsUNKNOWNMetallurgy
Money Or Standard Medium Of ExchangeUNKNOWNMedium Of Exchange
Patrilocal ResidenceUNKNOWNResidence
PotteryUNKNOWNCeramic Technology
Prevalence Of WarUNKNOWNInstigation Of War
Warm ClimateUNKNOWNClimate
WeavingUNKNOWNWoven And Other Interworked Fabrics

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Bowden, Edgar"Traits [loading above .5 on] rotated factor Index of Social Development [are]: permanency of residence, group life, agriculture, use of grain for food, constancy of food supply, domesticated animals other than herded, mining and smelting of metals, metals obtained from outside, pottery, weaving, money or other standard medium of exchange, trade, private property in land, power vested in a chief, codified laws, authority of judges, plutocracy, and organized priesthood" (456)
Rudmin, Floyd WebsterCertain characteristics of societies will be significantly correlated in the same direction with both Simmons' (137) and Murdock's (1967) measures of private property ownership.
Stark, RodneyBelief in moralizing High Gods will be associated with cultural complexity (621).
Gouldner, Alvin W.Findings: Factor A, "Apollonianism or Norm-Sending", has high positive loadings (oblimax rotation) for: elaboration of ceremony and ritual, organized priesthood, authority vested in judges, power vested in chief, government by restricted council, and attractiveness of future life. Highest negative loadings are for marriage by capture and domesticated animals other than herded.
Murdock, George Peter". . . patrilineal institutions [are] associated with the presence of traits indicative of higher civilization, matrilineal institutions with their absence. [Some of these are:] agriculture, [animal] domestication, writing, pottery, weaving, metals, [labor] specialization, money, [social] classes, government [and] priesthood . . ." (467)