You can choice - Book Report/Review Example

Chapter Two: Theories of Evolution and Origin Myths Anthropologists and historians have all endeavored to explainhuman evolution as portrayed by different cosmologies. Scupin uses different mythologies from different communities to shade more light about the origin of humanity and the universe. His approach first focuses on the unscientific method that early societies used to explain the origin humankind. For instance, he uses myths from different communities across the world. Is analysis indicates that many myths of origin go hand in hand with the origin of the universe.

While using myths of origin from the Navajo people of India, Scupin highlights that life began with divine people who lived below the surface of the earth. The Navajo myth claims that those divine and holy people were living below the surface until one day a natural disaster in the form of floods forced them upwards through a reed. The myth asserts that once those divine people were on the surface they created the universe. Another myth form the Greeks claims humanity first existed when Prometheus made the first man from water and earth.

Another Greek mythology contends that human first appeared on earth when Pyrrah, under Zeus instructions, threw stones behind Zeus. The myth claims that those stones formed the first humankind. Christian theory of humanity bases its arguments on the Bible. The Bible records that God created in six days while He created humankind on the seventh day. On the other hand, scientific explanation of humankind uses the theory of evolution (Scupin 53). Reaction about Chapter 2 Scupin chooses not to take sides on most of the myths of origin.

Probably, he does not want what may appear to demean the crucial role that myths play in any society, by basing his argument on one such application. He, however, presents as many theories as possible in a systematic manner. His keeping aloof from commenting of myths of origin is an example of what qualities a brilliant anthropologist should always have. However, he also introduces his readers to critical thinking and philosophical approach to anthropology by making his readers ask themselves questions that may provoke an academic discourse and research (Scupin 64).

In a different light, the chapter also touches on the both scientific revolution that Scupin uses to analyze the ancient societies mythologies. He uses Darwin’s theory of evolution to give a picture of human evolution from the scientific theory. By comparing Darwin’s theory of evolution and biological evolution, Scupin is probably showing that the two theories share some similarities unlike the myths of origins and scientific theories. The societies that had myths of origin centered their beliefs from their environments.

The Navajo people talk about a hollow reed (Scupin 53) while the Greek talk about their gods. Most of the myths have some divine elements in them. This also reveals that the early societies probably attributed the origin of humanity to powers beyond those of human beings. Unlike Darwin’s theory of evolution, myths of origin would question the assertion that man is a product of accident. Nonetheless, each scientific theory has its empirical backing. By also focusing on the early hominids and their early technologies, Scupin succeeds in giving an anthropological explanation why the modern society is so diverse and technology oriented.

In short, Scupin demonstrates the best way for anthropological analysis through a step by step without leaving out any piece information.Work CitedScupin, Raymond. Cultural Anthropology: A Global Perspective. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2011.