Broad supernatural punishment but not moralizing high gods precede the evolution of political complexity in Austronesia

Proceedings of the Royal Society B • Vol/Iss. 282 • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Watts, Joseph, Greenhill, Simon J. , Atkinson, Quentin D., Currie, Thomas E., Bulbulia, Joseph, Gray, Russell D.

Abstract

The authors investigate whether moralizing high gods and, more generally, supernatural punishment precede, sustain, or follow political complexity. The cultural traits at hand are mapped onto phylogenetic trees representing the descent and relatedness of 96 Austronesian cultures.

Note

Gray et al.'s 2009 phylogenetic sample of 400 Austronesian cultures was pruned to 96 cultures with the "richest ethnographic records."

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherResearchers Own

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
High political complexity has coevolved with moralizing high gods (2, 5)Supported
The presence of moralizing high gods facilitates and sustains high political complexity (2, 5).Not Supported
High political complexity has coevolved with broad supernatural punishment (2, 5).Supported
Belief in broad supernatural punishment facilitates and sustains high political complexity (2, 5).Partially supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Tahlisa Brougham