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Representative Trantis
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 Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2003 3:27 pm Post subject: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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| Apart from learning about Human Origins what is anthropology about? |
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John Roth
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote in message
news:bi7fjg$tik$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
[quote]Apart from learning about Human Origins what is anthropology about?
[/quote]
Anthropology is mostly about human behavior, not origins. See
the topic "Cultural Anthropology" for a better idea.
John Roth
[quote]
[/quote] |
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EKobus
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2003 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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It is the holistic study of humans and human behavior...which means it can
be pretty much almost anything...as long as it portains to humans or
primates. :)
"Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote in message
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[quote]Apart from learning about Human Origins what is anthropology about?
[/quote] |
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Steve Hayes
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 12:10 am Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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On Sun, 24 Aug 2003 11:51:56 +0100, "Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote:
[quote]
"EKobus" <ekobus@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rIO1b.5647$3q.255772@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
It is the holistic study of humans and human behavior...which means it can
be pretty much almost anything...as long as it portains to humans or
primates. :)
If it>s the study of humans, where do you draw the line between psychology
and anthropology, why isn>t psychology a sub division of anthropology.
[/quote]
Psychology also studies the behaviour of rats in mazes, and the salivation of
dogs.
[quote]Would sitting in a restauraunt looking at a courting couple at dinner,
perhaps on a first date, be sturying anthropology, for example?
[/quote]
If you were planning to write a dissertation on it, yes.
Steve Hayes
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm |
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Tedd
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 12:36 am Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote in message
news:bia5c9$qpb$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
[quote]
"EKobus" <ekobus@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rIO1b.5647$3q.255772@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
It is the holistic study of humans and human behavior...which means it can
be pretty much almost anything...as long as it portains to humans or
primates. :)
If it>s the study of humans, where do you draw the line between psychology
and anthropology, why isn>t psychology a sub division of anthropology.
[/quote]
i cant give an accurate answer on this one... there is actually alot of overlap,
it>d probably take a PhD in one of the fields to truely give you an accurate
answer. another way to think about it would be "where do you draw the line
between the medical profession and physical anthropology? they both study the
human body". in one sense, psychology emerged from anthropological studies of
the 1800>s (some would say even earlier).
[quote]Would sitting in a restauraunt looking at a courting couple at dinner,
perhaps on a first date, be sturying anthropology, for example?
[/quote]
sure, as long as you knew what you were looking at, looking for, and why. kinda
like looking at a mountain and saying "wow, what a view" as compared to "the
range is composition of accrued segments beginning about 4.8 mya....". 90% of
the work is done aside from the actual observations. observing is just data
collecting. |
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Melisande from CA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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[quote]sure, as long as you knew what you were looking at, looking for, and why.
kinda
like looking at a mountain and saying "wow, what a view" as compared to "the
range is composition of accrued segments beginning about 4.8 mya....". 90% of
the work is done aside from the actual observations. observing is just data
collecting.
Actually, I find most beginning anthropologists find the "just data collecting"[/quote]
part of the profession to be very difficult.
Observing accurately and in detail is an acquired skill. Anthropologists
frequently use film or videotape to supplement their observations, which is to
say that many anthropologists do not know precisely what they are looking at or
for when they make their observations (cf. Befu>s work on Japanese bowing
traditions). Writing down one>s observations so that they can be preserved in
written form is another acquired skill. Some anthropologists (Boas for
example) believe that this is the main job of anthropology.
Analysis of the data varies in quality and force, since it is difficult to know
when one has enough data about anything, whether one>s data is a one-time
occurrence, or whether the culture/process in question has changed as a result
of our observations or will change for unrelated reasons after we stop
observing.
For that reason, I regard some of the best anthropology as purely descriptive.
This is true in other animal sciences as well, both for me and for others.
Imposing one>s theoretical or explanatory viewpoints on the data is often fun,
but usually leads to endless arguments among professionals.
To minimize the importance of data collecting and emphasize theory or analysis
is often a mistake.
Additionally, some of anthropology>s greatest contributions have to do with
repeated observations, with rather simple and unavoidable analyses. For
example, while it might seem obvious and common sensical to a Westerner to say
that women are often associated with domestic labor, anthropologists in the
20th century felt it was necessary to actually study as many cultures as
possible to establish the validity of this statement. After years of debate
over how to define (in etic and emic senses) what was domestic labor, it is
generally agreed that there are gender differences in contributions both to
public life and domestic life. These differences are thought to be cultural,
since they appear to be changing in contemporary societies. However, many
would say that the data collection period is too short and still too sketchy to
draw any huge conclusions. It is, however, clear that men can be taught to do
housework and that this skill can be transmitted from generation to generation.
Regards,
Melisande |
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Tedd
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 11:49 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Melisande from CA" <melisande55@aol.comnokooks> wrote in message
news:20030913123058.08275.00000773@mb-m14.aol.com...
[quote]Observing accurately and in detail is an acquired skill. Anthropologists
frequently use film or videotape to supplement their observations, which is to
say that many anthropologists do not know precisely what they are looking at
or
for when they make their observations (cf. Befu>s work on Japanese bowing
traditions). Writing down one>s observations so that they can be preserved in
written form is another acquired skill. Some anthropologists (Boas for
example) believe that this is the main job of anthropology.
[/quote]
thats why the boasians are dead and papa franz himself was considered "the worst
40 years in american anthropology". |
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Ed Conrad
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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On 14 Sep 2003 10:41:19 -0700, darth_versive@yahoo.com (darth_versive)
wrote:
[quote]"Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote in message news:<bia5c9$qpb$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
"EKobus" <ekobus@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rIO1b.5647$3q.255772@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
"Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote
SNIP
[/quote]
What Else Does Anthropology Cover?
<
To the very best of my knowledge -- but, remember, I>ve
only had a ringside seat for 23 years -- I can assure you
the ONLY thing that physical anthropology covers is its
own rear end.
<
Thank you.
<
Ed Conrad
<
=================================================
<
[quote]THEY>VE GOT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
FROM FACTS AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
(Petrified coal-age bones, teeth and soft organs)
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Smith/z11calv.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/z8femur.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/z5gall.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/newtibia.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/skullb.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/z9lung.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/brain/MVC-001S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Newpix5/MVC-002S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Bones/MVC-006S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/1tooth.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Newpix3/z3dino.jpg
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/MVC-013F.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Petrified/MVC-012F.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Day/MVC-005S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Scorpion/MVC-001S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Scorpion/MVC-010S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Scorpion/MVC-020S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/SCORPIONS/MVC-039S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Tool/MVC-003S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Tool/MVC-005S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/FINGER/MVC-008S.JPG
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/FINGER/MVC-011S.JPG
[/quote]
Petrified human toe (with toenail):
[quote]http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Au29/MVC-017S.JPG
Petrified human finger (with fingernail):.
http://www.edconrad.com/ebay/Au29/MVC-016S.JPG
[/quote]
==============================================
<
Ed Conrad
[quote]http://www.edconrad.com
[/quote]
Man as Old as Coal
(and the anthropseudopologists can>t cope with it) |
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darth_versive
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote in message news:<bia5c9$qpb$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
[quote]"EKobus" <ekobus@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rIO1b.5647$3q.255772@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
"Representative Trantis" <a@a.com> wrote
Apart from learning about Human Origins what is anthropology about?
It is the holistic study of humans and human behavior...which means it can
be pretty much almost anything...as long as it portains to humans or
primates. :)
If it>s the study of humans, where do you draw the line between psychology
and anthropology, why isn>t psychology a sub division of anthropology.
Would sitting in a restauraunt looking at a courting couple at dinner,
perhaps on a first date, be sturying anthropology, for example?
[/quote]
You>ve put your finger on one of the biggest problems in modern social
science (at least in my view): hyperspecialization, the lack of
interdisciplinary synthesis, and the definitional "turf wars" which go
along with this.
In effect, it leads much too often to the type of situation of the
"left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing," with
psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists,
economists, historians, etc. working according to their own methods
and bodies of knowledge, and allowing a variety of linguistic and
conceptual gulfs to develop between the various social science
disciplines.
This question about where to draw the line between psychology and
anthropology is a symptom of this disease, and shows the extent of the
gulf.
The answer of course, is that looking at a courting couple at dinner
would be *both* psychology *and* anthropology, in principle. And also
either psychology *or* anthropology, in practice, depending on who was
doing the looking, and on their particular educational background, and
on which particular methods they were using, and on what particular
questions they were trying to answer.
Hopefully, as we develop a more interdisciplinary social science, the
practice will come to be more like the principle, and the typical
social scientist will see anthropology and psychology as
complementary.
Many see it this way now, but not nearly enough, IMO.
DV |
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Melisande from CA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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[quote]thats why the boasians are dead and papa franz himself was considered "the
worst
40 years in american anthropology".
By whom, precisely?[/quote]
And how is Boas himself "the worst 40 years in anthropology"?
By the way, the people who LIKE Boas are frequently end users of anthropology,
such as the tribes he studied. Seems to me that having someone outside the
field value your work is worth something.
But again, to restate my point, a lot of current anthropology lacks the
descriptive power it should have, because folks just don>t know how to observe.
Here>s a brain teaser:
Who, in contemporary cultural anthropology, would you consider to be a "great"
anthropologist and why?
MR |
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Melisande from CA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:35 am Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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[quote]
thats why the boasians are dead and papa franz himself was considered "the
worst
40 years in american anthropology".
Which major textbook in cultural anthropology (edited by anthropologists from[/quote]
Yale and UCLA...not Boise) advises teachers to use the following question:
Franz Boas is aptly named the "father of American Anthropology." Why?
Any ideas, Jacbobs? |
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Tedd
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:23 am Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Melisande from CA" <melisande55@aol.comnokooks> wrote in message
news:20030914135758.08275.00000843@mb-m14.aol.com...
[quote]Who, in contemporary cultural anthropology, would you consider to be a "great"
anthropologist and why?
MR
[/quote]
L. Binford, K. Hawks, K. Hill, K. Flannery, J. Zieker, M. Plew,...
because they are actually doing something about understanding behavior and
behavioral issues besides just building massive trait lists that look for
nothing and tell nothing. boas believed all you had to do was list out
everything and the answer would just magically appear.
boas himself eventually admitted that the program was theoretically bankrupt.
but then again... coming from someone who got his degree by looking at the color
of seawater in the arctic...
the next twenty years after his death was filled with die hard former students
who futily attempted to create a theoretical framework for a system that didnt
work to begin with. |
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Tedd
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:36 am Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Tedd" <Jacobs@mail.boisestate.edu> wrote in message
news:yda9b.62$QG5.58141@news.uswest.net...
[quote]
"Melisande from CA" <melisande55@aol.comnokooks> wrote in message
news:20030914135758.08275.00000843@mb-m14.aol.com...
Who, in contemporary cultural anthropology, would you consider to be a
"great"
anthropologist and why?
MR
L. Binford, K. Hawks, K. Hill, K. Flannery, J. Zieker, M. Plew,...
of course i should mention J. Steward, C. Wissler, L. White, possibly the works[/quote]
of Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown,... |
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Tedd
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:41 am Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Melisande from CA" <melisande55@aol.comnokooks> wrote in message
news:20030914223553.23411.00001121@mb-m19.aol.com...
[quote]
thats why the boasians are dead and papa franz himself was considered "the
worst
40 years in american anthropology".
Which major textbook in cultural anthropology (edited by anthropologists from
Yale and UCLA...not Boise) advises teachers to use the following question:
Franz Boas is aptly named the "father of American Anthropology." Why?
Any ideas, Jacbobs?
[/quote]
columbia was the first anthropology program in the US. boas is credited with
being the 'father of US anthropology' because of this and for the infrastructure
he created, not for methods (which came from the british) or the innovations
(which also came from the british and a few "blacklisted" anthropologists like
wissler, morgan, and a host of others he blackballed because they didnt agree
with him). if you truly agree with boas then i suppose we should bring back the
concept of psychic unity and culture personality studies. |
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darth_versive
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: What Else Does Anthropology Cover |
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"Tedd" <Jacobs@mail.boisestate.edu> wrote in message
<snip>
[quote]columbia was the first anthropology program in the US. boas is credited with
being the 'father of US anthropology' because of this and for the infrastructure
he created, not for methods (which came from the british) or the innovations
(which also came from the british and a few "blacklisted" anthropologists like
wissler, morgan, and a host of others he blackballed because they didnt agree
with him). if you truly agree with boas then i suppose we should bring back the
concept of psychic unity and culture personality studies.
[/quote]
I don>t want to get into the middle of this argument, but to get back
to Representative Trantis' question about the relationship between
psychology and anthropology, could you tell me your views (both Tedd
and Melisande) about what each field has to contribute to the other,
and how well they>ve been integrated over recent years?
I myself have been interested in the area of the study of subjectivity
in general, and how people>s subjective beliefs affect their behavior
and the social and cultural institutions, norms, etc. that arise and
evolve.
DV |
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