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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| French ''atavisme'', from [[Latin]] ''atavus'' [[ancestor]], from ''at''- (probably akin to ''atta'' daddy) + ''avus'' grandfather | | French ''atavisme'', from [[Latin]] ''atavus'' [[ancestor]], from ''at''- (probably akin to ''atta'' daddy) + ''avus'' grandfather |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1833] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1833] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1a : recurrence in an [[organism]] of a [[trait]] or character typical of an [[ancestral]] [[form]] and usually due to genetic recombination | | *1a : recurrence in an [[organism]] of a [[trait]] or character typical of an [[ancestral]] [[form]] and usually due to genetic recombination |
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| *2: throwback | | *2: throwback |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | '''Atavism''' is the tendency to revert to [[ancestral]] type. In [[biology]], an atavism is an [[evolutionary]] throwback, such as [[traits]] reappearing which had disappeared [[generations]] before. Atavisms can occur in several ways. One way is when [[genes]] for previously existing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenotype phenotypical] features are preserved in [[DNA]], and these become [[expressed]] through a [[mutation]] that either knock out the overriding genes for the new traits or make the old traits override the new one. A number of traits can vary as a result of shortening of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenatal_development fetal development] of a trait ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny neoteny]) or by prolongation of the same. In such a case, a shift in the time a trait is allowed to [[develop]] before it is fixed can bring forth an ancestral phenotype. | + | '''Atavism''' is the tendency to revert to [[ancestral]] type. In [[biology]], an atavism is an [[evolutionary]] throwback, such as [[traits]] reappearing which had disappeared [[generations]] before. Atavisms can occur in several ways. One way is when [[genes]] for previously existing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenotype phenotypical] features are preserved in [[DNA]], and these become [[expressed]] through a [[mutation]] that either knock out the overriding genes for the new traits or make the old traits override the new one. A number of traits can vary as a result of shortening of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenatal_development fetal development] of a trait ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny neoteny]) or by prolongation of the same. In such a case, a shift in the time a trait is allowed to [[develop]] before it is fixed can bring forth an ancestral phenotype. |
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| In the [[social sciences]], ''atavism'' is a cultural tendency—for example, people in the [[modern]] era reverting to the ways of [[thinking]] and acting of a former time. The word atavism is derived from the Latin ''atavus''. An ''atavus'' is a great-great-great-grandfather or, more generally, an [[ancestor]]. | | In the [[social sciences]], ''atavism'' is a cultural tendency—for example, people in the [[modern]] era reverting to the ways of [[thinking]] and acting of a former time. The word atavism is derived from the Latin ''atavus''. An ''atavus'' is a great-great-great-grandfather or, more generally, an [[ancestor]]. |
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| Social scientists describe the return of older, "more [[primitive]]" tendencies (e.g. [[warlike]] [[attitudes]], "[[clan]] identity", anything suggesting the social and political atmosphere of thousands of years ago) as "''atavistic''". "Resurgent atavism" is a common name for the [[belief]] that people in the modern era are beginning to revert to ways of [[thinking]] and acting that are throwbacks to a former time. This is especially used by [[sociologists]] in reference to [[violence]]. | | Social scientists describe the return of older, "more [[primitive]]" tendencies (e.g. [[warlike]] [[attitudes]], "[[clan]] identity", anything suggesting the social and political atmosphere of thousands of years ago) as "''atavistic''". "Resurgent atavism" is a common name for the [[belief]] that people in the modern era are beginning to revert to ways of [[thinking]] and acting that are throwbacks to a former time. This is especially used by [[sociologists]] in reference to [[violence]]. |
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− | The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-pagan neo-pagan] subculture also uses this same terminology ("atavism" or "resurgent atavism") to describe how [[modern]], Western countries are experiencing both the decline of [[Christianity]] and the rise of [[Nrm|religious movements]] inspired by the pagan religions of centuries [[past]]. Some cite the rise of environmentalism, scientific [[inquiry]], and liberalization of society as contributing to an increasingly [[secular]] society, one in which religious sentiments are more frequently tied with an appreciation of the [[physical]] world rather than set against it. Occasionally, the use of these terms in reference to "alternative" [[spirituality]] or in an [[occult]] context implies the use of [[violence]] to assert these changing religious views. For example, in the book ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_of_Chaos_(book) Lords of Chaos]'' a rash of church burnings across Scandinavia has been described as a part of this trend because many of the perpetrators were self-described "pagans" seeking to overthrow what they deemed to be centuries of religious [[oppression]] by Christianity. | + | The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-pagan neo-pagan] subculture also uses this same terminology ("atavism" or "resurgent atavism") to describe how [[modern]], Western countries are experiencing both the decline of [[Christianity]] and the rise of [[Nrm|religious movements]] inspired by the pagan religions of centuries [[past]]. Some cite the rise of environmentalism, scientific [[inquiry]], and liberalization of society as contributing to an increasingly [[secular]] society, one in which religious sentiments are more frequently tied with an appreciation of the [[physical]] world rather than set against it. Occasionally, the use of these terms in reference to "alternative" [[spirituality]] or in an [[occult]] context implies the use of [[violence]] to assert these changing religious views. For example, in the book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_of_Chaos_(book) Lords of Chaos]'' a rash of church burnings across Scandinavia has been described as a part of this trend because many of the perpetrators were self-described "pagans" seeking to overthrow what they deemed to be centuries of religious [[oppression]] by Christianity. |
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− | ''Atavism'' is a key term in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Schumpeter Joseph Schumpeter]'s explanation of [[World War I]] in 20th century liberal Europe. He defends a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_international_relations_theory liberal view of international relations] that an international society built on [[commerce]] will avoid war because of war's destructiveness and comparative cost. His reason for WWI is termed "atavism", in which he asserts that senescent governments in Europe (those of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire German Empire], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russian Empire], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottoman Empire], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Empire Austro-Hungarian Empire]) pulled the liberal Europe into war, and that the liberal [[regimes]] of the other continental powers did not cause it. He used this idea to say that [[liberalism]] and commerce would continue to have a soothing effect in international relations, and that war would not arise between nations which are connected by commercial ties.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atavism] | + | ''Atavism'' is a key term in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Schumpeter Joseph Schumpeter]'s explanation of [[World War I]] in 20th century liberal Europe. He defends a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_international_relations_theory liberal view of international relations] that an international society built on [[commerce]] will avoid war because of war's destructiveness and comparative cost. His reason for WWI is termed "atavism", in which he asserts that senescent governments in Europe (those of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire German Empire], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russian Empire], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottoman Empire], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Empire Austro-Hungarian Empire]) pulled the liberal Europe into war, and that the liberal [[regimes]] of the other continental powers did not cause it. He used this idea to say that [[liberalism]] and commerce would continue to have a soothing effect in international relations, and that war would not arise between nations which are connected by commercial ties.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atavism] |
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| [[Category: Biology]] | | [[Category: Biology]] |
| [[Category: Anthropology]] | | [[Category: Anthropology]] |
| [[Category: Sociology]] | | [[Category: Sociology]] |