Anthropology is the study of what makes us human.Anthropologists take a broad approach to understanding the many different aspectsof the human experience, which we call holism. They consider the past, througharchaeology, to see how human groups lived hundreds or thousands of years agoand what was important to them. They consider what makes up our biologicalbodies and genetics, as well as our bones, diet, and health. Anthropologistsalso compare humans with other animals (most often, other primates like monkeysand chimpanzees) to see what we have in common with them and what makes usunique. Even though nearly all humans need the same things to survive, likefood, water, and companionship, the ways people meet these needs can be verydifferent. For example, everyone needs to eat, but people eat different foodsand get food in different ways. So anthropologists look at how different groupsof people get food, prepare it, and share it. World hunger is not a problem ofproduction but social barriers to distribution, and that Amartya Sen won aNobel Prize for showing this was the case for all of the 20th century’sfamines. Anthropologists also try to understand how people interact in socialrelationships (for example with families and friends). They look at thedifferent ways people dress and communicate in different societies.Anthropologists sometimes use these comparisons to understand their ownsociety. Many anthropologists work in their own societies looking at economics,health, education, law, and policy (to name just a few topics). When trying tounderstand these complex issues, they keep in mind what they know about biology,culture, types of communication, and how humans lived in the past.
No comments:
Post a Comment