Is Human Culture Cumulative?

It has been claimed that a unique feature of human culture is that it accumulates beneficial modifications over time. On the basis of a couple of methodological considerations, we here argue that, perhaps surprisingly, there is insufficient evidence for a proper test of this claim. And we indicate what further research would be needed to firmly establish the cumulativeness of human culture.

Automated summary

The text explores the idea of whether human culture accumulates beneficial modifications over time, highlighting a lack of evidence to properly test this claim and suggesting further research is needed to firmly establish the cumulativeness of human culture.