Anthropology and its origins

· Anthro Origin

· Greek – Anthropos : People

· Logos : The study of:

· Read intro to Anthropology KOTTAK No.33 in reading list.

· ANTHROPOLOGY: IS THE STUDY OF HUMANBEINGS AND ITS IMMEDIATE ANCESTORS.

· ANTHROPOLOGY SPLIT INTO 4 SUB-FIELDS.

· Sociocultural, archaeological, biological and linguistic anthropology

· Sociocultural anthropology is the study of human culture and society

· Biological anthropology focuses on biological variation – explores human evolution as revealed by fossil records, human growth & development; genetics; biological plasticity.

· Linguistic anthropologist study languages in their social and cultural contexts.

· Applied anthropology refers to knowledge gained from research to solve practical problems.

· Interest in anthropology was kindled a long time ago … as people encountered human diversity in all its forms.

Cultural Relativism – Viewing a cultural group from the perspective of that group. : Stepping outside your own cultural box and be as unbiased as possible.

What was the enlightenments?

It began around 1715, advanced with the industrial revolution, encouraged reading, learning and public discussion, as well as research. The phrase was only ‘coined’ in English in the 1850s .. about the time of the emergence of researchers like Charles Darwin.

Important building - L’Institut de France building.

Early informal Anthropologist were persecuted. They faced legal penalties.

· Charles Darwin (and the lesser known Alfred Russell Wallace – proposed the idea of natural selection – nased on adaptation..which is: ‘the processes by which organisms cope with environmental forces & stresses’ Kottak 2005.)

· This inspired many early Anthropologist.

· Natural Selection is: ‘the process nature selects the forms most fit to survive and reproduce in a given environment.’ Find reference.