ANTHR207 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Determinism, Homo Sapiens, Medical Anthropology

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHR207
• Professor: Brent Hammer

Document Summary

Anthropology explores human societies, cultures, and physical diversity across time and space. What it means to be human is different and varied everywhere. Applied anthropology > directly applied to life, real world context, usually occurs outside of academic influence. Effect of history and how is has shaped it today. Isn"t always about seeking answers, it"s about asking good questions. How did we get to be who we are? . The view that the human is made up of two components: a material, physical body, and an immaterial soul or spirit. Mind/body is separate but still work in relation. Anthropology as an descriptive and interpretive discipline: reject science as a means to understand human culture; mistrust scientific explanation. A population"s culture is unique, based on its particular history and unique traditions. Resources are culturally defined, not inherent in nature. Mental components of a culture are fundamental in making it the way it is.