ANTH 301 Lecture 1: Development of Anth
Document Summary
The word theory is used very loosely in common speech to denote any explanatory dynamic for a phenomenon. When people want to denigrate an explanation they are wont to say that"s only a theory". Theories are operational, that is they must be testable. (at least as a thought problem) some physics questions ex: black holes, can"t literally be tested: three types of theory theories about how we know what we know (epistemology) Heuristic theory example: when foraging people distribute food they practice general and imprecise statements of dynamics specific and testable statements of dynamics generalized reciprocity. Would need a ton of evidence to prove this. Harder to test and prove: science is a meta-theory hallmarks of science. Empirical- relies on observation and data collection. Systematic- relies on standardized methodologies to insure validity and reliability. Explicit- assumptions and methodologies and findings are clearly spelled out. Logical- conforms to the truth standards of formal logic.
