Science, Reason, and Anthropology: A Guide to Critical by James Lett

By James Lett

For classes on anthropological thought, heritage, and methods... Science, cause, and Anthropology explores the philosophical foundations of anthropology and identifies the basic rules of rational inquiry upon which all sound anthropological wisdom relies. As a box consultant to serious considering, with examples all through, it truly is dedicated to a radical explication and research of the character of cause and the perform of anthropological inquiry. bankruptcy one reports the old context of the modern debate among medical and humanistic views in anthropology, highlighting crucial transformations among the 2 techniques. bankruptcy examines the character of data and explains the basic components of epistemological research. bankruptcy 3 describes the fundamental positive factors of the medical process; it defines technology as an aim, logical, and systematic method of propositional wisdom, and explains every one function intimately. bankruptcy 4 applies the basic ideas of serious considering to an research of up to date anthropological idea. bankruptcy 5 indicates a reconciliation among the medical and humanistic techniques, arguing that the basic components of sound reasoning are universal to either views. Science, cause, and Anthropology argues forcefully for the preeminent price of the clinical process in anthropology, however it does so whereas spotting the inherent worthy and innate charm of the humanistic point of view. Even those who find themselves no longer predisposed to percentage the author's conclusions will take pleasure in the transparent and forthright demeanour with which he provides his arguments.

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Extra resources for Science, Reason, and Anthropology: A Guide to Critical Thinking

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At the same time, this is neither a prospectus for a particular theoretical perspective, such as Cultural Materialism (Harris 1979) or Anthropology as Cultural Critique (Marcus and Fischer 1986), nor a treatise on research methodology, such as A Handbook of Method in Cultural Anthropology (Naroll and Cohen 1970) or Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology (Bernard 1995). This is a much more basic and fundamental book: it is about the epistemological foundations of anthropological theory, or the essential nature and ultimate source of anthropological knowledge.

Chapter 5 concludes by suggesting a reconciliation between science and humanism founded upon reason and identifies some promising approaches in anthropology that are successfully applying the fundamental principles of rational inquiry. What is the true nature of humanism? In what sense is anthropology a humanistic science? What contemporary approaches within anthropology exemplify the consistent application of rational inquiry? What future direction should anthropology take? Let me offer one last word of caution before we begin.

The essential vocation of interpretive anthropology," he argues, "is not to answer our deepest questions, but to make available to us answers that others . . have given, and thus to include them in the consultable record of what man has said" (Geertz 1973:30). In The Interpretation of Cultures, Geertz addresses a number of traditional anthropological topics (including culture, religion, politics, and ritual), but he does so in a way that Page 7 redefines traditional anthropological goals. The analysis of culture, he declares, is "not an experimental science in search of law but an interpretive one in search of meaning" (Geertz 1973:5).

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