ANT101H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Species Complex
Document Summary
***the central paradigm of any part of anthropology is culture. A brief history of the development of thought on human evolution: origin myths. All human cultures seem to have a theory of belief surrounding the origins of humans. How humans are the ultimate products of creation. Differs in details amongst cultures, but all possess these explanations: fixity of species. Accepted that all living things created by god. Way we exist today is the way we appeared when first created: great chain of being. 1st proposed by aristotle in 4th century bc. All animals arranged in a hierarchy that progressed from simplest to most complex. Important as he began to position humans in a continuum amongst other organisms. Still adhered to fixity of species: genus & species. Saw that certain plants & animals could be distinguished from other groups by their ability reproduce with one another and produce viable offspring.
