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Anthropological Schools of Thought

Anthropological Schools of Thought. School of thought – a certain way of interpreting a subject. Functionalism. All cultures are set up to deal with the universal problems that human societies face Every custom or practice serves a purpose, esp. p roviding stability (examples???)

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Anthropological Schools of Thought

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  1. Anthropological Schools of Thought School of thought – a certain way of interpreting a subject

  2. Functionalism • All cultures are set up to deal with the universal problems that human societies face • Every custom or practice serves a purpose, esp. providing stability (examples???) • Institutions – established laws, practices, customs within a society QUESTION: What is the social function of these institutions? • Believe that society is a logical function, therefore kinship systems, beliefs, practices must also be logical • Role of anthropologist is not to judge, but to explain • Criticism of Functionalist theory • Functionalists present societies as more stable than they really are • Functionalists downplay the negative results of some practices

  3. Structuralism • The human mind functions on the principle of binary opposites • Binary opposites – humans tend to see things in terms of 2 forces that are opposite to each other, such as night and day, good and evil, male and female • Everyone notes a difference between people born “here” and elsewhere, normal days and holy days, boys clothing and girls clothing... • Each culture has a logic to its view of binary opposites • Anthropologists must seek out and explain the rule that tell us where/when items are good and where/when they are bad • Shoes are good outside, but bad on the table • Understanding how different cultures view binary opposites helps us understand the logic behind the culture • Criticisms: • Overemphasize stability and logic in human societies

  4. Cultural Materialism • Technology and economic factors are important in moulding society • Determinism – types of technology within a society determine the type of society that develops • Founded by Marvin Harris in The Rise of Anthropological Theory • Material factors are the starting point to understanding a society • Material factors determine social structure (classes, distribution of wealth) • Material factors determine the superstructure (music, recreation, arts) • We must analyze society’s decisions regarding technology and economic reproduction • Criticisms: • Are you looking for ways that the culture fits into cultural materialism? Should be allowing the subject culture to explain itself • Making the subject culture fit into fixed laws

  5. Questions • Create a chart to show the similarities and differences among the various schools of thought in anthropology. Explain the main criticisms of the three schools of thought. • Suggest a study of some aspect of your own community that would be of interest to anthropologists. Explain how the research would be conducted, being sure that the research techniques match the skills and methods of anthropologists.

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