SOC401 Handouts

Lesson 01

WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?

Anthropology can be best defined as the study of the various facets of what it means to be human. Anthropology is a multidimensional subject in which various components are studied individually and as a whole to develop a better understanding of human existence. In this lecture we will not only be developing an understanding of the definition of anthropology, we will also be looking at what an anthropologist does. In addition to this we will also be looking at the various branches of anthropology with a focus on cultural

Definition of Anthropology

Anthropology is derived from the Greek words anthropos for human and logos for study, so if we take its literal meaning it would mean the study of humans. In one sense this is an accurate description to the extent that it raises a wide variety of questions about the human existence. However this literal definition isn’t as accurate as it should be since a number of other disciplines such as sociology, history, psychology, economics and many others also study human beings.

What sets anthropology apart from all these other subjects? Anthropology is the study of people, their origins, their development, and variations, wherever and whenever they have been found on the face of the earth. Of all the subjects that deal with the study of humans, anthropology is by far the broadest in its scope. In short anthropology aims to describe, in the broadest sense, what it means to be human.

Activities of an Anthropologist

As we already know, anthropology is the study of what it means to be human. So the study of the influences that make us human is the focus of anthropologists. Anthropologists study the various components of what its means to be human.

Branches of Anthropology

A

Physical Anthropology – Is the study of humans from a biological perspective.

Essentially this involves two broad areas of investigation.

a. Human paleontology -: this sub branch deals with re-constructing the evolutionary record of the human existence and how humans evolved up to the present times.

b. Human variation -: The second area deals with how/ why the physical traits of contemporary human populations vary across the world.

B

Archeology – study of lives of people from the past by examining the material culture they have left behind

C

Anthropological Linguistics – the study of human speech and language

D

Cultural Anthropology – the study of cultural differences and similarities around the world

Now that we have briefly defined the various branches of anthropology, lets us now take an in-depth view of cultural anthropology.

Cultural Anthropology:

As we have discerned above, cultural anthropology concerns itself with the study of cultural differences as well as the similarities around the world.

On a deeper level the branch of anthropology that deals with the study of specific contemporary cultures (ethnography) and the more general underlying patterns of human culture derived through cultural comparisons (ethnology) is called cultural anthropology.

Before cultural anthropologists can examine cultural differences and similarities throughout the world they must first describe the features of specific cultures in as much detail as possible. These detailed descriptions (ethnographies) are the result of extensive field studies in which the anthropologists observes, talks to and lives with the people under study. On the other hand ethnology is the comparative study of contemporary cultures, wherever they are found. The primary objective of ethnology is to uncover general cultural principals/rules that govern human behavior.

Areas of Specialization in Cultural Anthropology

I Urban Anthropology – studies impact of urbanization on rural societies and the dynamics of life within cities

II Medical Anthropology – studies biological and socio-cultural factors that effect health or prevalence of illness or disease in human societies

III Educational Anthropology – studies processes of learning of both formal education institutions and informal systems which can use story telling or experiential learning

IV Economic Anthropology – studies how goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed within different cultural contexts

V Psychological Anthropology – studies relationship between cultures and the psychological makeup of individuals belonging to them

Holistic and Integrative Approach

Cultural anthropologists consider influences of nature and nurture, across all locations and across different periods of time.

When various specialties of the discipline are viewed together, they provide a comprehensive view of the human condition

Common Responses to Cultural Difference:

A

Ethnocentrism – a belief that one’s own culture is not only the most desirable but also superior to that of others.

B

Cultural relativism – looks at the inherent logic behind different cultures and practices in the attempt to understand them

Relevance of Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology enhances understanding of differences and prevents oversimplified generalizations. It increases self-knowledge about our own thinking, values and behavior and helps develop cognitive complexity through integration (interconnectedness) and differentiation (different aspects of a singular

entity). Cultural anthropology is also useful in facilitating meaningful interaction with other cultures and sub-cultures. Components: parts

Paleontology: specialized branch of physical anthropology that analyses the emergence and subsequent evolution of human physiology

Variation: degree of difference

Archeology: sub field of anthropology that focuses on the study of pre-historic and historic cultures through the excavation of material remains.

Contemporary: current

Urban: city based

Ethnocentrism: the practice of viewing the customs of other societies in terms of one’s own.

Chapter 1 in ‘Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective’ by Ferrarro and/or Chapter 13 in ‘Anthropology’ by Ember and Pergrine

In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following web-pages for this lecture, which provide useful and interesting information:

How do Anthropologists Work?

Braches of Anthropology