Sociological theory adapted an evolutionary theoretical framework for understanding social change in the 19th century. Later on the evolutionary approach has been challenged, modified or refused. This paper examines the controversy between anti-evolutionary and neoevolutionary theories. Anti-evolutionary theories attacked the concept of social progress, neo-evolutionary theories defended it. At present, it seems, macrosociological theory has abandoned the concept of social progress. This paper argues that from an analytical perspective there is no compelling argument to do this. Sociological theory may retain the concept of social change linked to an evolutionary theory if in the light of criticisms it redefines it.

中文翻译：

---

社会变迁还是社会进化？社会学进化论中支持和反对社会进步的论点

社会学理论采用了进化理论框架来理解 19 世纪的社会变化。后来进化方法受到了挑战、修改或拒绝。本文考察了反进化论和新进化论之间的争论。反进化论攻击社会进步的概念，新进化论为它辩护。目前看来，宏观社会学理论已经摒弃了社会进步的概念。本文认为，从分析的角度来看，没有令人信服的论据来做到这一点。社会学理论可能会保留与进化理论相关的社会变迁的概念，如果它根据批评重新定义它的话。