Preview

What is anthropology and why we should study it?

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1848 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What is anthropology and why we should study it?
There are lots of areas of study out there but the one field that intrigues peoples and civilizations is the actual study of themselves and how they interact with other human cultures. I don't think that I would have enrolled for this class if it hadn't been for the minor requirement in my business major. Although this class started early in the morning and required a lot from me, I am glad that I took it. I grew up in two cultures simultaneously and the experiences I incurred have made me the person I am today. I think that it is important to familiarize yourself with other cultures not just in business but it will aid in smoother business transactions. In the following paragraphs I will discuss the breadth of cultural anthropology. Anthropology and the vast fields that are included in the study cannot be summarized in one paper. I will attempt to cover as much as I can in the following pages. I will also relate Anthropology to college students today and explain the importance of understanding other cultures. Finally I will elaborate on some of the presentations that I liked the most and offer helpful hints and comments on those groups.

The discipline of anthropology studies humankind in the cultures of the world, both past and present. This study includes humankind's physical development and the wide diversity of lifestyles people have created. The main goal of Anthropology is to understand objectively the reasons for both similarities and differences among humans, their behaviors and ideas. Using the central concept of culture, a system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and material objects that members of a society use to cope with their world, anthropologists investigate and gather data on the human condition. Cultural anthropology is a broad subject and not only includes different ethic cultures but social economic cultures as well. Cultural Anthropology seeks to understand and describe each culture in its own perspective and in comparative

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Eng 102 Chapter 2 Summary

    • 2997 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Anthropology: the systematic and comparative study of humankind in all its cultural and biological diversity—past, present, and future. In short, anthropology is the study of all things human.…

    • 2997 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. cultural anthropology - the study of customary patterns in human behavior, thought, and feelings…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What Makes us Human Culture? Why is culture Important? Humans are animals Unlike other species, we attain our needs through culture. Culture is..…

    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Psyc221 Notes

    • 6651 Words
    • 27 Pages

    * Anthropology- the study of human culture-the shared values, beliefs, and practices of a group of people…

    • 6651 Words
    • 27 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Midterm Study Guide

    • 2652 Words
    • 11 Pages

    * Anthropology uses a holistic perspective to understand human culture and what it means to be human…

    • 2652 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    ANTH100 – Introduction to Anthropology APUS Assignment: Be An Anthropologist 2 Due by 11:59p on Sunday of Week 6 Purpose: The goal of this exercise is to observe a ‘cultural scene’ as an anthropologist would (i.e. based on everything you have learned in the course to-date). The student will analyze their observations in terms of themes from the subfield of cultural anthropology such as how it helps frame our societies (family, lifestyle, lineage, language and communication) and, in some ways, its evolution. Description: Culture as we have discussed in our readings and lecture notes is an incredible advantage that has allowed humans to enter almost every niche in nature. The development and maintenance of culture is what sets humans apart from…

    • 1561 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    References: Anthropology and the Human Condition. Lecture 7: Economic Organization and Exchange, Thompson E.C. (2008) Retrieved from http://sc2218.wetpaint.com/page/Lecture+7%3A+Economic+Organization+and+Exchange+%282008%29 on January 24, 2011…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cultural anthropology is concerned with the nature and extent of social and cultural differences among different societies.…

    • 4631 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ANTH 102 assignment 01

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Anthropology is the study of humankind, viewed from the perspective of all people and all times.…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Final Notes

    • 3290 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Anthropology Science of human cultural and biological variation and evolution Study of human biological and cultural difference across space and time Anthropos: man (Greek) Logos: word (Greek) Naming: building a knowledge off “Study of Man” Human Diversity/Differences Rigorous explanation of being human appreciation of many things Overlap with other fields Economics: accumulate wealth v. giving away wealth Different perspectives Biological and Cultural Differences Important factor: wired naturally to perceive/interact with world Not just about biology mediated by complex culture (shared meanings: signs, symbols, knowledge, LANGUAGE) Communication: body language clothes, hair etc. Assumptions about the world without realizing Culture…

    • 3290 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anthropology and Culture

    • 2252 Words
    • 10 Pages

    E. Race is a social construct and is therefore a necessary tool for categorizing people of various cultures…

    • 2252 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    resulting conclusion being either right or wrong. In this paper I will be talking about the ethical…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anthropology differs from other social sciences because anthropology’s purpose is to define what it means to be human. Other social sciences such as economics,…

    • 416 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Anthropology Careers

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Anthropology can be defined in basic terms as the study of humankind. It incorporates the findings of many other fields such as biology, sociology, history and economics. Since the study of humankind is so broad, anthropology is divided into four major fields which are Cultural, Archeology, Physical and Linguistic. I have found that each of these fields has many specialized areas or subfields that can open the doors to a wide-variety of fascinating, interesting and even unexpected careers.…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ethnology and Ethnography

    • 1976 Words
    • 8 Pages

    There are two major approaches to collecting information about human culture: ethnography and ethnology. Each approach has a specific goal. Each approach employs a variety of methods for data collection and analysis, all of which carry benefits but also challenges. Along with the challenges of data collection, field anthropologists face an additional set of logistical, emotional, and ethical obstacles. Anthropology is a difficult field but provides an important perspective on cultural diversity.…

    • 1976 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays