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What is Anthropology?

What is Anthropology?. The study of humankind everywhere throughout time. Past, present and future Humans and ancestors Global perspective Provides perspectives on how people differ from one another and how they are the same. Branches of Anthropology. Physical

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What is Anthropology?

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  1. What is Anthropology? The study of humankind everywhere throughout time. Past, present and future Humans and ancestors Global perspective Provides perspectives on how people differ from one another and how they are the same.

  2. Branches of Anthropology • Physical • humans as biological organisms • Evolutionary development • Biological variation • Archaeology • Recover info about past cultures by examining • Material objects • Skeletal remains • settlements

  3. Branches of Anthropology • Cultural • How humans thinks, feel and behave • How cultures vary • Linguistics • Study language and communication systems • How culture is passed down to subsequent generations

  4. How is Anthropology Done? • IT IS A SCIENCE • Formulate and test hypotheses • Aim to develop robust theories about our species • DATA collection by • Fieldwork • Lab studies

  5. Compared to other disciplines Cross-cultural Long-term perspective Holistic People Place Culture

  6. Core Ideas Study humans and relatives of humans in order to determine what it means "to be human" Attempts to understand humankind are not recent phenomenon but only practical with advent of accessible travel. GLOBAL in nature. Diversity is accepted HOLISTIC - rather than focus on one subtopic or component, Anthropology looks at interconnections and interdependence of human experience. Willingness to draw on expertise of other fields to explain observed phenomena

  7. Read first then discuss • Attempts to avoid studies/ideas that are "culture-bound". Try to reduce ethnocentric thinking. • Pg 6 - infants and sleeping with or without parents. • Acts as a sounding board/testing lab for the theories of psychologists/sociologists, etc. • Pg 7 - organ transplants in different cultures. • Anthropology uses/creates • Theory • Research • Methodology • Applications • Pg 10-11 - forensic examination of genocide victims.

  8. Fieldwork Issues/Concerns How does one remain unbiased/impartial while becoming involved with study group? Can learn more if enmeshed in culture but lose observer perspective

  9. Comparative Method Used to assess theories Compare data of biological/cultural/linguistic or historical nature of 2 or more groups to understand larger patterns. Best theories are based on WORLDWIDE comparisons.

  10. Example of Comp. Method • Ex: Height is advantageous. • In Masai: Allows for better detection of predators on Savanna. • In Pygmy: Small stature allows for better navigation of rainforest environments. • By comparing height and environment, better theory can be developed. • Height is indicative of environment in which population evolved. Data comes from Evolutionary studies. • Temperature also plays a role. SA:V ratio. Tall thin is better in hot, Short round is better in cold. Data comes from Physiology.

  11. Ethics • What will findings be used for? • What happens when research objectives are at odds with belief/tradition? • Who decides what constitutes "betterment" or aid? • How to rectify cultural relativism with global opinion/standards? • Ex: Sharia law vs. Common law • How to maintain privacy, dignity, etc?

  12. Globalization Effects are both + and – Loss of cultural identity Rapid dissemination of information/knowledge Other issues Pg 20-21 for examples

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