John Curtis Franklin
Critical Realism Advisor John Curtis Franklin is professor of classical civilizations at the University of Vermont. He teaches Greek and Latin language and literature, especially epic, lyric, and comedy, with occasional escapades into the Ancient Near East and music archaeology. Much of his research has dealt with early Greek cultural history at the Near Eastern interface(s), focusing especially on the interaction of poetic/musical traditions, always in hopes of elucidating broader issues.
The Cultural Complexity Index
The Cultural Complexity Index (CCI) initiative aims to quantify and analyze human cultural complexification across history. By applying advanced hierarchical complexity scoring to diverse cultural artifacts, the CCI will provide the first comprehensive dataset on cultural evolution. This project seeks to move cultural complexification theories from speculative sociology to empirical science, challenging relativistic academic paradigms and fostering more integrative approaches to today's complex global challenges. Through academic publications and public engagement, the CCI aims to catalyze a paradigm shift in understanding cultural evolution, offering crucial insights for addressing the intricate problems of our time.