Chapter 1 - Introduction to Anthropology PDF

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY Definition, Scope and Subject Matter of Anthropology The term anthropology is a compound of two Greek words, ‘ANTHROPOS’ and ‘LOGOS’. Translated as human being/mankind and reason/study/sci...

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY Definition, Scope and Subject Matter of Anthropology The term anthropology is a compound of two Greek words, ‘ANTHROPOS’ and ‘LOGOS’. Translated as human being/mankind and reason/study/science respectively. So, Anthropology means reason about humans or the study or science of humankind or humanity. Anthropology is the study of humans. Thus, Anthropology looks at humans as something complex in terms of physical, emotional, social, and culture.  Anthropology is the scientific study of the origin, behavior, physical, social and cultural development of humans. It is a broad scientific discipline dedicated to the comparative study of humans as a group. From its first appearance on earth to its present stage of development. In more specific terms, Anthropology is the science which: Investigates the strategies for living that are learned and shared by people as members of human social groups. Examines the characteristics that human beings share as members of one species (Homo sapiens) and the diverse ways that people live in different environments. Analyses the products of social groups: material objects (material cultures) and non-material creations (religion/beliefs, social values, institutions, practices, etc.).  At the deepest level, it raises philosophical questions; What makes us human? Why do some groups of people tend to be tall and lanky, while others tend to be short and stocky? Why do some groups of people practice agriculture, while others hunt for a living? The ultimate goal of Anthropology is to develop an integrated picture of humankind. Anthropology primarily offers two kinds of insight; First, the discipline produces knowledge about the actual biological and cultural variations in the world; Second, Anthropology offers methods and theoretical perspectives enabling practitioners to explore, compare, understand and solve societal problems. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY In the academic arena Anthropology is considered as a relatively new discipline. As its major development mainly in the 19th and 20th century. The present academic Anthropology has its roots in the works and ideas of: The great ancient and Medieval Greek, Roman, and Hebrew philosophers and social thinkers. These people were interested in the nature, origin and destiny of man, and the morality and ethics of human relationships. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY Anthropology as an academic discipline was born during the 19th century. During the Enlightenment period, based on the Darwinian Theory of Evolution. In Ethiopia, professional Anthropologists have been studying culture and society on a more intensive level only since the late 1950s SCOPE AND SUBJECT MATTER OF ANTHROPOLOGY The subject matter of Anthropology is very vast. The subject matter cover all aspects of human ways of life. It discovers the meaning, nature, origin, and destiny of humanity. There is no time and space left as far as man exists. In other words, the temporal dimension covers the past, the present and even the future. In terms of the spatial dimension, Anthropology studies from Arctic to Desert, from Mega polis to hunting gathering areas. The discipline covers all aspects of human ways of life experiences and existence, as humans live in a social group.  Anthropology is interested in some of the following questions and issues about humans: I. Where did human species come from? II. In what ways does man differ from other animal species? III. How did mankind arrive at the present stage of biological, intellectual, and cultural development? IV. In what ways do humans who live in various times and places differ? V. How can we explain why cultures vary? DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF ANTHROPOLOGY There are several distinguishing characteristics that identify Anthropology disciplines: I. ITS BROAD SCOPE It is interested in all human beings, whether contemporary or past, “primitive” or “civilized”. II. ITS UNIQUE APPROACH Anthropology is Holistic Anthropology is Relativistic Anthropology is Comparative DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF ANTHROPOLOGY III. EMPHASIS ON INSIDERS' VIEW Anthropologists focus on how the people themselves understand about their world. IV.THE MICRO-FOCUS Anthropology focuses on local than the big social processes. V. ITS METHOD OF RESEARCH Qualitative - Ethnography MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGY There are a number of misconceptions associated with anthropology due to lack of appropriate awareness of its nature. The following are some of the misconceptions: The area of its study – primitive societies Peoples under investigation – rural people Its distance coverage – far away, remote Its purpose – primitiveness, Lucy CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANTHROPOLOGY The contributions of anthropology may be categorized in to the following: It gives us an insight into different ways and modes of life of a given society. It also helps us understand our own ways of lives. It helps us fight against prejudices and discriminations. It is also used as a tool for development. In addition to the aforementioned points, we may substantiate the contributions of anthropology as follows: Because of its broad scope, Anthropology allows us to understand the biological, technological and cultural development of humanity over long period of time in human evolution. Because of its comparative approach to humanity, Anthropology allows us to separate what is unique to our way of life from what is general to all people. Because of its relativistic approach, Anthropology helps us to be more sensitive and appreciative of cultural diversity and variability. Anthropologists bring a holistic approach to national and international development agencies. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOLOGY AND OTHER DISCIPLINES SIMILARITIES Anthropology is similar with other Social Sciences as to its subject matter. Because all Social Sciences study human society in different ways. Anthropology, thus cuts across many disciplines, encompassing many of the subjects that other scholars consider their special province. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOLOGY AND OTHER DISCIPLINES DIFFERENCES Anthropology differs from other social sciences and the humanities by its: Its broad scope; it studies mankind in its entirety. In its approach, Anthropology studies and analyzes human ways of life holistically, comparatively and relativistic. Its unit of analysis is small-scale society. In its method of research, extended fieldwork. MAJOR SUB FIELDS OF ANTHROPOLOGY The interests and subject- matter of Anthropology are wide-ranging. This broad discipline is usually divided in to four main sub-fields. These are: 1. Sociocultural anthropology 2. Linguistic anthropology 3. Archaeological anthropology 4. Physical anthropology Applied anthropology is added as a fifth sub-field Each sub-field of anthropology is further divided into a number of specialization areas. 1. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Physical Anthropology is the branch of Anthropology most closely related to the natural sciences, particularly Biology; That is why it is often called Biological Anthropology. Physical Anthropology studies the biological dimensions of human beings, including: The biological evolution, The physical variations between contemporary populations, and The biology and behavior of non-human primates. 1. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Physical Anthropology itself is further divided into three special fields of study: I. PALEOANTHROPOLOGY: Is interested in the search for fossil remains from prehistoric times to trace the development of outstanding human physical, social and cultural characteristics. Use a variety of sophisticated techniques to date, clarify and compare fossil bones to determine the links between modern humans and their biological ancestors. 1. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY II. PRIMATOLOGY: The study of the biology and behavior of Primates; that is, the animals that most closely resemble human beings in terms of physiological and anatomical structure. Primatological research helps us understand what human beings share with other animals. What makes them part of the natural world and their unique characteristics. 1. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY III. ANTHROPOMETRY: The study of human variations within and among different populations in time and space, i.e Human ecology, population genetics, etc make up the central concerns of this sub-branch of Physical Anthropology These physical differences may be in terms of blood types, skin colors, skull shape, facial shape, hair texture, and the like 2. SOCIOCULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Concerned with the social and cultural dimensions of the living peoples. With the description and analysis of people’s lives and traditions Studies the social, symbolic or nonmaterial and material lives of contemporary and historically recent human societies, taking the concept of culture central to its goal. 2. SOCIOCULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Cultural anthropologists conduct studies of living peoples, most often by visiting and living among a particular people for an extended period of time. They conduct fieldwork among the people. They study and describe the results of their investigations in the form of books and articles called Ethnographies. Cultural anthropology is also concerned with making generalizations about, and seeking explanations for, similarities and differences among the world's people. Socio-cultural anthropologists engage in two aspects of study: I. Ethnography (based on field work) More of empirical study or description of the culture and ways of lives of a particular group of people. Provides a comprehensive account of a particular community, society, or culture. Socio-cultural anthropologists engage in two aspects of study: II. Ethnology (based on cross-cultural comparison) It examines, interprets, analyzes, and compares the results of ethnographic data gathered in different societies. By using such data, it is a theoretical study of the similarities and differences among the human groups of the world, past or present. 3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Archaeology studies the ways of lives of past peoples by excavating and analyzing the material culture/physical remains (artifacts, features and eco-facts) they left behind. Artifacts: are material remains made and used by the past peoples. Tools, ornaments, arrowheads, coins, and fragments of pottery… 3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Features: like artifacts, are made or modified by past people, but they cannot be readily carried away from the site. House foundations, ancient buildings, fireplaces, steles, and postholes. Eco-facts: are organic and environmental remains such as soil, animal bones, and plant remains that were not made or altered by humans; but were used by them. Eco-facts provide archaeologists with important data concerning the environment and how people used natural resources in the past. Archeological Anthropology has three major goals: 1. Classifying and sequencing material culture; 2. Reconstructing ancient ways of life; and 3. Explaining and describing cultural processes Some branches of study in archeology include: I. Prehistoric Archeology: Investigates human prehistory; that is the periods of time in a region before the art of writing developed. Uses material remains to reconstruct prehistoric life ways. Studies contemporary peoples whose styles of life are analogous and or comparable to those of ancient peoples. II. Historical Archaeology: Uses the evidence provided by excavated remains to enhance our understanding of historic peoples; that is, peoples who had writing and about whom written records are available. III. Classical Archeology: It deals primarily with the ancient civilizations and empires of Europe and the Middle East, including Egypt, Greece, Roman, Persia, Axum, etc. IV. Ethno-Archaeology: Study material culture of current societies (e.g., pottery products) to understand the cultures (life styles) of past societies. 4. LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY Linguistics: is the scientific study of language. Linguists describe and analyze the sound patterns, combinations of sounds, meanings and structure of sentence in human languages. They also attempt to determine how two or more languages are related. Linguistic anthropology: It is defined as The study of speech and language within the context of anthropology. It is the study of language as a cultural resource and speaking as a cultural practice. 4. LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY It is especially concerned with: The evolution of languages Unwritten languages Relations between language and other aspects of human behavior and thought How language is used within a society, and How the human brain acquires and uses languages 4. LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY Linguistic anthropology is divided into four distinct branches or areas of research: I. Socio-linguistics: is interested in how the language is used in various social contexts. II. Historical-linguistics: focuses on the comparison and classifications of different languages to discern the historical links between them. III. Structural-linguistics: studies the structure of linguistic patterns. IV. Ethno-linguistics (cultural linguistics): examines the relationship between language and culture. 5. APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY Often now seen as a fifth major branch of anthropology. The application of Anthropological knowledge, methods and approaches to the solving of human problems. Involves the use of data gathered in other subfields of anthropology in an endeavor to tackle contemporary societal problems. Anthropologists have increasingly become concerned with practically dealing with human problems. The problems may include: environmental, technological, economic, social, political or cultural. Applied anthropologist now work in quite many areas of relevance such as; education, mass medical, medicine, development, business, agriculture, crime and urban poverty, etc.