Approaches and Kinds of Studying Anthropology - Report Example

R.Preeti 10/7/2007 Anthropology Anthropology is the science of the study of humanity. It is the study of mankind from various perspectives and angles. It traces origins, behaviour patterns and other aspects of human life and evolution. From the time man came into being, the process of the growth of civilisation, transformations in the psychology, lifestyle and physiology of man, to the current phase of the human civilisation is studied under this subject. Anthropology, thus, extensively deals with the lives of humans, as its subject matter. It allows the students and those involved with the subject, the joy of appreciating human life and the continuous process of constantly reinventing life. It also helps us understand the evolution and revolutionary phases, how man adapts himself to these conditions and constantly upgrades himself. It includes all aspects of human life---cultural, physical, linguistic and archaeological. The primary goal of the subject is to understand the different conditions of living and its influence of human behaviour patterns, the variations it brings about in humans and the development of man over periods of time. The variations in environmental and circumstantial conditions and the differences they bring about in humans are discerned. In the process of studying anthropology, an individual begets the opportunity to overcome his biases against varied cultures and background and gains the ability to appreciate the thought-processes of all cultural affiliations and emerge with conclusions based on the backgrounds, respectively. Anthropology also boils down to the process of understanding the various influences on humans and how it can change a person. Besides this, the sheer diversity in terms of biology and culture that exists in the human race can be appreciated in all its beauty and completeness. Therefore, anthropology is very evidently concerned with the entirety of human life and conditions of living. Anthropology as a subject, begets its information and subject matter form various sources. All these sources, together contribute to the study matter of the subject. Here is a briefing no the various sources of the subject matter of anthropology: Firstly, anthropology deals with the evolution of the homo sapiens and also deals with the study of the growth and adaptation of mankind over time and changes in the environment and cultural milieu. Therefore, one of the important sources could be the ancestral evidences that we possess, even today. We derive information about the past from a variety of sources like fossil remains, skeletal remnants and other preserved proofs of the bygone era. Culture is a significant part of the subject matter of anthropology and therefore, all the aspects that contribute to the derivation of information about the varied cultures and location-based differences become sources. Artefacts, historical evidences regarding cultural set-ups and historical facts, coinage, pottery, figures and figurines and the like become sources to deduce information regarding the culture and the variations in the same, all over the world. Secondly, anthropology studies the evolution of mankind, in terms of the physical aspects. Therefore, the information we derive from primates and the study of their evolution, transformation and growth contributes immensely to anthropology. We can perform comparative study amidst the different species of the primate order and come to conclusions regarding the history of the evolution of mankind. Thirdly, besides the cultural, historical and other aspects of human evolution and life, the linguistic and nutritional facts. All those sources that contribute to the derivation of the food, clothing, language, social setting and other aspects of the societal set-up of man. The variations, similarities and other aspects are of great interest to anthropologists. These are the varied sources and origins of information that contribute to the subject matter and research of anthropologists. Anthropology, for the convenience of classifying these sources and categorising information, can be classified under four types. This not only helps us understand the branches of the subject, but also the varied facets of man, that contributes to his overall combination and development. The four sub-categories of anthropology are discussed below: Physical Anthropology: This is the sub-category of anthropology that deals with the biological aspect of the human civilisation. It deals with physiology, the anatomy, development and growth, diet and nutrition, etc. It deals with the physical aspect of the human population and is inclusive of paleontology or paleoanthropology. This deals with the study of the fossil remains and other remnants that offer evidence about the biological information of the ancient man. Linguistic Anthropology: This category of anthropology deals with the science of languages. It studies the structure and history of the evolution of languages, in its wide number, all across the globe. The differences and the phonetic aspects are also studied. Language, as a means of bonding between human beings, as a communicative tool and as a reflection of the similarities or variations in ideologies of man all round the world is looked into, in this category. Cultural Anthropology: This is an interesting facet of anthropology, as it studies the cultures across the globe and amidst the human population. The differences in the thinking, actions and reactions of individuals belonging to different cultures forms the crux of the study. The means of livelihood, the values and ethics of people belonging of different cultures, the unique practises, the laws of marriage and parenthood, and various other important aspects fo human lives, related to culture is studied under this type of anthropology. Archaeology: This category of anthropology deals with the prehistory of man. It deals with the settlement and resettlement facts of man, the tools, the infrastructure and other aspects of the physical conditions of living. In addition to this, it deals with the tools and other equipments available at each cultural and prehistoric milieu fo the history of man. Thus, the structures and figures available in the prehistoric eras and the food habits of man, during those times; in addition to how it has changed in the contemporary set-up is dealt with, under archaeology anthropology. Anthropologists use numerous methods to study human beings and the entirety that comes with the subject. The methods are discussed below: Comparative Method: This method of anthropology does not limit itself to the study of human beings, based in a particular part of the globe. For instance, if we study the habits and origin of human beings residing in the American continents and pass judgements based on those findings, for humans across the world, it would be extremely misleading and incorrect, to say the least. Therefore, the comparative method of studying human beings undertakes the task of comparing humans from different parts and backgrounds around the world, investigating into their origins and lives and then, drawing conclusions. Holistic Approach: Anthropology not only studies one particular aspect of the human beings, but all the facets of the lives of humans, in an integrated form. For instance, we would probably not consider only the eating habits of a certain group of individuals, but the climatic conditions, the geographical area and the like, that influence vegetation in the particular region. In this way, all the aspects of human life are inter-related and dependent on each other and anthropology follows the holistic approach to get the crux of the entirety of human life. Culture Concept: Anthropology studies not only the physical aspects of human life, but also the mental, theoretical and cultural aspects. Culture is a predominant aspect in deciding upon the lifestyles, behavioural patterns, interactions and the societal settings of all human beings. As a species, we have not evolved so much in terms of our physical attributes, as we have evolved in terms of out cultural quotients, over the centuries. Therefore, approaching the study of humanity in terms of the cultural setting is another approach that anthropology undertakes. Naturalistic Fieldwork: In anthropology, which studies human beings, it is essential to include the contextual circumstances and settings, along with the human aspect of individuals. It can be extremely difficult to understand certain practices of a particular society or why certain groups of people look a particular way, without understanding the climatic, social and economic practices of those groups of humans. Thus, the contextual approach helps us understand human beings and t heir outlooks better. Human approach: It is not very right to consider anthropology a science, since it does not deal with specimens under the microscope, but human beings who are irrational, emotional and sensitive to feelings and changing situations. One cannot draw up conclusions and generalise upon behavioural tendencies, since one cannot possibly guess if the individual in question would change his mind in a few moments or not. In addition to this, it is not possible to study one individual and apply the conclusions to the whole of humanity, since no two humans are alike. Therefore, it is a dynamic and an evolving humanistic study, rather than a mere science. These are the various approaches and varied kinds of studying anthropology. References Website: www.wikipedia.com Website: http://www.ksu.edu/sasw/anthro/anthro.html Website: http://cdis.missouri.edu/previews/2064/lesson01.htm “Anthropology”, Richard Deutsch, November 1998. Read More