Chapter 1 Introduction to Anthropology

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Chapter 1 Introduction to Anthropology
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What is anthropology?

• Anthropology is the systematic study of
  humankind.
• ???????? - man
• ????? - word/study
• Emergence of the discipline
• Two major goals
• Understand uniqueness and diversity
• Discover fundamental similarities

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Four-field Approach

• Four subdisciplines bridge science and
  humanities
• Physical Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Linguistics
• Cultural Anthropology

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Physical Anthropology

• Primarily concerned with humans as a biological
  species
• Most closely related to natural sciences
• Major research areas
• Human evolution
• Modern human variation
• Subdisciplines
• Palaeoanthropology, primatology, forensics,
  palaeopathology, human osteology, genetics

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Archaeology

• Archaeologists seek out and examine the artifacts
  (material products) of past societies.
• Archaeology is not treasure-hunting (a la Indiana
  Jones).
• Subdisciplines of archaeology
• Prehistoric, historic, Classical, Biblical,
  underwater
• Modern trash

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Linguistic Anthropology

• Subfield of anthropology, philosophy, and English
• Main research areas
• How language is used
• Relationship between language and culture
• How humans acquire language
• Fields of linguistics
• Structural, historical, sociolinguistics

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Cultural Anthropology

• Sometimes known as ethnology, cultural
  anthropology examines contemporary societies and
  cultures throughout the world.
• Participant observation
• Ethnography
• Ethnographic data

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Holism and Applied Anthropology

• Training in all four fields required
• Links to other social sciences
• Sociology, psychology, economics, political
  science, history
• Applied Anthropology
• Sometimes called the 5th field
• Offers practical solutions to cultural problems
• Chapter 18

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The Scientific Method

• A logical system used to evaluate data derived
  from systematic observation.
• Inductive first data, then theory
• Deductive first theory, then evaluation

Inductive Model
Deductive Model
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Anthropology and Humanities(Post-processual
approaches)

• Humanistic interpretive approach
• Analogies
• Used primarily in cultural anthropology
• Examples of humanistic subdisciplines
• Ethnopoetics, ethnomusicology, art, myth,
  literature
• More in Chapter 6

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Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

• Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another
  society by the values and standards of ones own
  society.
• Nacirema discussion
• Cultural relativism is the view that cultural
  traditions must be understood within the context
  of a particular societys responses to problems
  and opportunities.
• Relativism exercise

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The Nacirema

• How do the Nacirema differ from other cultures
  you are familiar with?
• How are they the same?
• This article was written in the 1950sdo you
  think its too harsh a look at anthropology
• Do you think this article helps you recognize
  your own cultural biases?
• Define ethnocentrism.
• Does this article speak to the problems with
  ethnocentrism?

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Great Britain - 1966
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Guinea Bissau, Africa
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The Americas
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The Netherlands
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Italy
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Tibet, 1997
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Mexico - November 1
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U.S. - Virginia, 2000
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Cultural Relativism

• The values of one culture should not be used as
  standards to evaluate the behavior of persons
  from outside that culture a societys custom and
  beliefs should by described objectively.
• Modern approach We should strive for objectivity
  and not be too quick to judge however, there are
  some moral absolutes that are removed from
  culture.
• Discussion
• Afghani women, refugees
• Medical aid workers
• September 11th