WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?
The term originates from two wordsin Greek:The term originates from two wordsin Greek:
•(1) anthropos meaning “man” as in “humanbeing”•(1) anthropos meaning “man” as in “humanbeing”
•(2) logos meaning “study”.•(2) logos meaning “study”.
•Consequently we can determine thatanthropology can be defined as: “the study ofhuman beings”.•Consequently we can determine thatanthropology can be defined as: “the study ofhuman beings”.
Yet many other humanities, sciences and socialsciences could also be defined as “the study ofhuman beings” since the definition itself is so broad.WHAT THEN IS UNIQUE ORCHARACTERISTIC OFANTHROPOLOGY?Yet many other humanities, sciences and socialsciences could also be defined as “the study ofhuman beings” since the definition itself is so broad.WHAT THEN IS UNIQUE ORCHARACTERISTIC OFANTHROPOLOGY?
(a). anthropology is transcultural; looks all humangroups, large and small; distant and near.(b). anthropology spans all of human history, theancient and the modern. We must know past tounderstand present.(c). anthropology is holistic; seeks to demonstratehow aspects of cultures are linked, how they affectone another; seeks to understand all aspects ofhuman behavior. It is a multi-faceted approach tothe study of human behavior.(a). anthropology is transcultural; looks all humangroups, large and small; distant and near.(b). anthropology spans all of human history, theancient and the modern. We must know past tounderstand present.(c). anthropology is holistic; seeks to demonstratehow aspects of cultures are linked, how they affectone another; seeks to understand all aspects ofhuman behavior. It is a multi-faceted approach tothe study of human behavior.
Anthropology seeks to find thegeneralities about human life while alsoexplaining the differences. To do thisthe examples must include atranscultural and historical perspective.Anthropology seeks to understandand explain why people do the thingsthey do and say the things they say. Agoal is create better understandingamong people.Anthropology seeks to find thegeneralities about human life while alsoexplaining the differences. To do thisthe examples must include atranscultural and historical perspective.Anthropology seeks to understandand explain why people do the thingsthey do and say the things they say. Agoal is create better understandingamong people.
In sum, anthropologists often say that“anthropology is the most humane ofthe sciences and the most scientific ofthe humanities”. Thus we draw datafrom all kinds of sources.In sum, anthropologists often say that“anthropology is the most humane ofthe sciences and the most scientific ofthe humanities”. Thus we draw datafrom all kinds of sources.
THE TWO MAIN SUB-FIELDDIVISIONS WITHINANTHROPOLOGY ARE:THE TWO MAIN SUB-FIELDDIVISIONS WITHINANTHROPOLOGY ARE:
•(1) biological anthropology•(1) biological anthropology
•(2) cultural anthropology.•(2) cultural anthropology.
Biological anthropology seeks tounderstand human behavior from abiological base especially focusing uponhuman evolutionary history andbiological variation among humanpopulations.Some examples of biologicalanthropology are paleontology;primatology; the study of humanvariation…Biological anthropology seeks tounderstand human behavior from abiological base especially focusing uponhuman evolutionary history andbiological variation among humanpopulations.Some examples of biologicalanthropology are paleontology;primatology; the study of humanvariation…
Cultural anthropology seeks tounderstand universals and variationsin human cultures both past andpresent.Cultural anthropology seeks tounderstand universals and variationsin human cultures both past andpresent.
Archaeology seeks to understandhuman history through the study(primarily) of materials remains.Sometimes the work of archaeologistsoverlaps with the work of historians ina specialization, historical archaeology.Archaeology seeks to understandhuman history through the study(primarily) of materials remains.Sometimes the work of archaeologistsoverlaps with the work of historians ina specialization, historical archaeology.
Linguistics seeks to understandhuman language, written and non-written, spoken and non-verbal. Thestudy of how languages change overtime is termed historical linguistics.The study of how language is used insocial contexts is termed socio-linguistics.Linguistics seeks to understandhuman language, written and non-written, spoken and non-verbal. Thestudy of how languages change overtime is termed historical linguistics.The study of how language is used insocial contexts is termed socio-linguistics.
Ethnology seeks to understand thepatterns of human thought andbehavior over time. A holistic, detaileddescription of a culture is termed anethnography.Ethnology seeks to understand thepatterns of human thought andbehavior over time. A holistic, detaileddescription of a culture is termed anethnography.
Underscoring all of the sub-fields inboth biological and culturalanthropology is Practicing or Appliedanthropology, which seek to applyanthropological knowledge to thesolution of human problems. All of thesub-fields in anthropology have anapplied, practicing component.Underscoring all of the sub-fields inboth biological and culturalanthropology is Practicing or Appliedanthropology, which seek to applyanthropological knowledge to thesolution of human problems. All of thesub-fields in anthropology have anapplied, practicing component.
Specializations INCLUDE:Specializations INCLUDE:
•(1) area specializations (SE Asia,Europe, Latin American, etc.; areaswhich share some cultural-historicalcharacteristics )•(1) area specializations (SE Asia,Europe, Latin American, etc.; areaswhich share some cultural-historicalcharacteristics )
•(2) topic specializations (medical,ecological, gender, etc.; themes uponwhich to focus within a holistic anddeeply contextual framework of aculture)•(2) topic specializations (medical,ecological, gender, etc.; themes uponwhich to focus within a holistic anddeeply contextual framework of aculture)
AnthropologyAnthropology
Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology
•Study of human behaviour based onwhat is LEARNED and that is typical ofa group of people•Study of human behaviour based onwhat is LEARNED and that is typical ofa group of people
–Archaeology: reconstruction ofpast cultures based on materialremains (excavations, study ofhuman artifacts)–Archaeology: reconstruction ofpast cultures based on materialremains (excavations, study ofhuman artifacts)
–Linguistic: understandinglanguage and its relation toculture–Linguistic: understandinglanguage and its relation toculture
–Ethnology: (Socio/CulturalAnthropology): Ethnographicstudies, i.e. living within aculture… eat what they eat, dressthe same way, worship their gods–Ethnology: (Socio/CulturalAnthropology): Ethnographicstudies, i.e. living within aculture… eat what they eat, dressthe same way, worship their gods
Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology
•Study of human evolution, biology andprimate research; Human skeletalanatomy; Interested in where humansoriginated and how population spread•Study of human evolution, biology andprimate research; Human skeletalanatomy; Interested in where humansoriginated and how population spread
–Biological: how disease andillnesses are geneticallytransmitted and how they arecaused by environmentalconditions
–Primatology: thinking andcommunication patterns ofprimates from our distantevolutionary past.
–Forensic: application of biologicalanthropology to the identificationof skeletalized or badlydecomposed human remains