Anthropology 1026F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: James Ussher, Neanderthal, Catastrophism
21 Apr 2016
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Rational pre-selection ability to plan for future. Anthropology: goals, objects of study? (data facts of interest) Variation in: a) physical appearance b) customs and beliefs . Later recognized widespread similarities amount humans despite variation: Eg: incest taboo, nuclear family as basic social unit, independent develop of political societies (states) in various areas of globe, etc. Description and explanation/understanding of differences and similarities among human groups and how these developed over time. Goal is to find out about humanity in general through comparisons; not about specific groups of people. Cannot assume any one group of people representative of all humanity. Also cannot understand what it means to be human unless do comparisons with other species focus on biological primate order. Sources of variation/similarities: physical or biological, non-biological such as customs and beliefs. Culture can be used in two senses: general culture, specific culture. Culture is neither good nor bad, just different question is why (ethnocentric)
