Article Discussion - The Great Battle of the Books, Evolutionists vs Relativists

We'll get together on Zoom to discuss Kevin Fernlund's paper (link below), "The Great Battle of the Books between the Cultural Evolutionists and the Cultural Relativists: From the Beginning of Infinity to the End of History"
[View of The Great Battle of the Books between the Cultural Evolutionists and the Cultural Relativists (villanova.edu)](https://jbh.journals.villanova.edu/index.php/JBH/article/view/2612/2532)

When reading the article, consider the following questions.

Fernlund argues that the 'modern idea that cultures have evolved
and that they have the capability to progress" comes to us from the 16th and 17th centuries, from early figures such as Francis Bacon. Is it true that traditional societies don't think that cultures have evolved and progress?

How true is it that traditional societies were static and fought to prevent knowledge from growing?

To what extent are modern societies dynamic in contrast to the static societies of the past?

Can cultures be graded as more or less mature/developed/civilized? If yes, what are some ways/measures they can be graded with? If no, what makes it diffficult/impossible to make these kinds of gradings?

If you have any aspect of the paper you'd like to discuss or dive deeper into, let me know beforehand or bring it up during the discussion.