Introduction to Society and Culture

Society and Culture

• Society features diverse cultures, each distinct and unable to be subsumed under a single dominant culture.
• Advocacy for cultural relativism emphasizes understanding all cultures' complexities, regardless of their primitive or advanced nature.
• The term culture originates from the Latin cultura, meaning cultivation.
• Edward B. Tylor defined culture in his book Primitive Culture (1871) as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custom, and all aspects of man as a member of society."

Branches of Anthropology

• Cultural Anthropology: Examines human cultural variations and development, analyzing social life forms of past and present.
• Linguistic Anthropology: Focuses on language, its origins, history, and contemporary variations in communication.
• Archaeology: Investigates past human cultures through material remains and artifacts recovery.
• Biological Anthropology: Studies humans as biological organisms, including evolution and contemporary diversity.
• Applied Anthropology: Addresses social, political, and economic challenges by developing solutions for current issues.

Political Science

• Originates from Greek polis (city-state) and Latin scire (to know), combining to form a social science focused on state, government, and politics.
• Roots in ancient Greek political philosophy, influenced by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, later developed through religious traditions by thinkers like Augustine, and secularized by Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
• Early philosophers shaped the evolution of Western societies from primitive states to more democratic forms.

Areas of Political Science

• Political Theory: Explores fundamental principles concerning the structure, functions, and conducts of the state.
• Public Law: Covers laws governing public governance frameworks and societal regulations.
• Public Administration: Studies civil service and governance as an academic discipline focusing on organizational management and policy implementation.

Explore the rich tapestry of cultures and their complexities in society through the lens of anthropology. This quiz covers the definitions, branches, and key concepts related to cultural relativism and human diversity. Test your understanding of how these factors influence social dynamics.