Questions and Answers
Who is considered the Father of American Anthropology?
Franz Boaz
Where did Franz Boaz come from?
He came from North America after being a victim of anti-Semitism.
Who is sometimes called the founding father of class ethnographers?
Emile Durkheim
What did Clifford Geertz contribute to anthropology?
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What is Edward Taylor's definition of culture?
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What are the three points of debate that persist among all anthropologists?
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What is Rosaldo's view on culture?
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Culture is _____ and all-encompassing.
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What are the Four Subfields of Anthropology?
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What is cultural relativism?
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What is the main goal of archaeology?
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What is the definition of emic perspective?
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What distinguishes inductive reasoning?
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What is a holistic view in anthropology?
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What makes humans different?
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What is ethnocentrism?
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What is the main focus of biological anthropology?
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What is the importance of social evolution?
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Study Notes
Key Figures in Anthropology
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Franz Boas:
- Considered the "Father of American Anthropology."
- Developed historical particularism, emphasizing culture as a complex product of social behavior, individual reactions, and community habits.
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Emile Durkheim:
- A leading figure in class ethnography, highlighting that culture and society shape individual personalities.
- Critiqued for oversimplifying conflict and change in social processes.
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Clifford Geertz:
- Renowned for symbolic anthropology, emphasizing the importance of symbols in guiding social action.
- Defined culture as a system of inherited conceptions, expressing meaning and knowledge through symbols.
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Edward Tyler:
- Described culture as the complex whole, encompassing knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, and customs.
The Nature of Culture
- Culture is difficult to define; it evolves with human progress and is learned rather than instinctual.
- Key characteristics of culture include its general and specific aspects, shared nature, symbolization, and the fact that it can change and be remade by its users.
- Cultures can be compared to one another, providing insights into human behavior across different societies.
Anthropology’s Fundamental Debates and Concepts
- Ongoing debates within anthropology concern whether culture is an integrated whole, autonomous, and if it has defined boundaries like nations.
- Rosaldo's Perspective: Critiques classic norms, advocating for an understanding of culture as learned, rather than genetically predetermined.
- Cultural Relativism: Important principle that advocates judging behaviors based on their cultural contexts rather than through one’s own standards.
Anthropological Subfields
- Archaeology: Studies past cultures via material artifacts, examining social and cultural histories.
- Biological Anthropology: Examines human biological variations and their ties to culture.
- Linguistic Anthropology: Explores language within social and cultural contexts and its evolution.
- Cultural Anthropology: Focuses on contemporary societies and their cultural practices through ethnography.
Methodologies and Perspectives
- Emic Perspective: Views culture from within, providing insider insights.
- Etic Perspective: Offers an external viewpoint on cultural practices.
- Fieldwork: Critical for gathering firsthand data in anthropological studies.
The Evolution of Societies
- Biological Evolution: Slow changes occur through genetics over generations.
- Social Evolution: Faster changes seen in societal structures, such as trade, governance, or community practices.
- Social evolution is observable at the individual level and transcends time and space through shared ideas.
Holistic Approach in Anthropology
- Holism emphasizes understanding cultures as systems where numerous components—economic, social, ideological—interact.
- To fully comprehend a culture, one must look at all its parts and their relationships.
Additional Concepts
- Agency: Highlights individual capacity to make choices and act freely within cultural contexts.
- Ethnocentrism: The tendency to evaluate other cultures using one's own cultural standards.
- Cultural Norms and Changes: Norms traditionally accepted in anthropology, but faced critiques for their relevance in contemporary studies.
Goals and Principles in Archaeology
- Archaeologists aim to uncover cultural history, reconstruct societies, and understand social changes.
- Key principles include universalism, holism, integration of culture, and cultural relativism.
Conclusion
- Understanding anthropology requires familiarity with its key figures, concepts of culture, subfields, methodologies, and prevailing debates. It emphasizes a comprehensive view of human life considering evidence, social structures, and individual agency.
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Test your knowledge of key concepts and figures in anthropology with these flashcards. Learn about influential anthropologists like Franz Boaz and the theories that shaped the field. Perfect for students and enthusiasts alike!