What is Anthropology?

Mr. Max Teody T. Quimilat

Topic OutlineThe Scope of Anthropology

The Holistic Approach

The Anthropological Curiosity

Fields of Anthropology

Applied Anthropology

The Relevance of Anthropology

Whatis

ANTHROPOGY?

ETYMOLOGICAL DEFINITION

Discipline of infinite curiosity about human beings

“ man, human”

“ study”

Anthropos + Logos

Interests in Anthropology

Interested in discovering

When, where and why humans appeared on earth

How and why they have changed since then.

How and why modern human populations vary in certain physical features.

How and why societies in the past and present have varied customary ideas and practices.

Study of human as definition

is incomplete; there must be something distinct and unique of

anthropology

The Scope of Anthropology

Who are the anthropologists?

Stereotyped

…proved something…

Anthropology is….

broader

Geographically

Historically

Wh

y b

road

?Concerned with all varieties of people throughout the world

Concerned in people of all periods

What belief motivates anthropology?

Any suggested generalization about human beings, any

possible explanation of

some characteristic of human culture or biology, should be shown to apply at

all times and places of human existence.

before….American educators discovered that African American School children rarely drank milk

LACK OF MONEY AND

EDUCATION?

ANTHROPOLOGICAL EVIDENCES

The truth is;

IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLDS WHERE MILKING ANIMALS ARE KEPT, PEOPLE DO NOT DRINK FRESH MILK INSTEAD THEY SOUR IT OR MAKE IT INTO CHEESE BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE INDIGESTION.

The beauty of anthropology…

The Anthropological Approach

Holistic or multifaceted

approach to the study of human beings

Studies not only all varieties but many aspects of human experience as well. Question image

History of the area

Physical environment

Organization of family life

General features of their language

Settlement patterns

Political economic systems, religion, styles of art and dress

Evolution of the scope of anthropologists

Before: Anthropologists tries to study everything

about a certain group.

Today: Anthropologists specialized in different

fields but retains its holistic approach by

taking it all into consideration.

An

thro

polo

gic

al C

urio

sity

It is all inclusive human scienceCurious about the typical characteristics of human populationsOn how and why such populations and their characteristicsHave varied through the ages.

Fields of Anthropology

Anthropology

Biological

Cultural

ArchaeologyLinguisticsEthnology

Biological anthropologySeeks to answer two distinct set of questions

1. About the emergence of humans and their l later evolution.

2. About how and why Contemporary human Populations vary biologicallyHuman paleontology, paleoanthropology

Human variation

In order to reconstruct evolution, paleontologists search for fossils- hardened remains or impressions.

Cultural anthropology

Interested in how populations or societies vary in

Their cultural features.

Branches

Archaeology study of past culture, primarily through their material remains

Ethnology study of existing and recent cultures

Linguistics anthropological study of language

Cu

lture

– cen

tral to

the

stu

dy

Refers to the customary ways of thinking and behaving of a Particular population or society.

Language religious beliefs food preferences music work habits

gender roles rearing children constructing houses customary among the group.

Applied Anthropology

Very useful for practicality

Today half of all professional anthropological are applied practicing anthropologist

Anthropology is a young discipline.

DO WE

NEED IT ?

Does it increase our understanding of human beings?

Does it help us avoid misunderstanding between peoples?

Does it help alleviate some of the misunderstanding thatArise between people of different cultural groups fromSubtle causes operating below the level of consciousness?

Does the knowledge of the past bring both a feeling of humility and a sense of accomplishment?

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!Yes!

Yes!

Aware of our VulnerabilitySo that we doNot think thatOur problemsWill solve Themselves.

Think enough ofOur accomplishmentsTo believe that we canFind solutions to our problems.

It helps us to understand and accept our place in the biological world.