Summary: History And Theory Of Anthropology

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• 1 Week 1

• 1.1 Lecture 1 Anthropological knowledge

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• The nature of anthropological theory: Probabailistic theories

  suggesting an association between different phenomena

• What is the problem of interpretation (ar paradigms as moberg calls it)

  It accounts for the fact that there are different world views and interpretations

• Anthropology as a science: Scientific view

  Research would lead to generalized knowledge - explanation

• Anthropology as a science: Interpretivist view

  Research leads to an understanding of particular cultural context - interpretation

• Subjectivity and reflexivity: preflexive anthropology

  The anthropologists voice is autoritative (not questioned)

• Subjectivity and reflexivity: Positivism

  We can study reality without taking into account the researcher's identity and beliefs

• Kuhn: scientific research is organized by paradigms. What is paradigm?

  à Paradigm = set of dominant beliefs within a field that establishes standards of scientific investigation
  1. Defines the problems considered relevant for research
  2. Sets forth a tentative explanation of those problems
  3. Establishes rules and standards for scientific procedure

• 1.2 Lecture 2 Proto anthropology

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• What makes anthropology a Western project?

  It is closely connected with the expansion of Europe (territory, power and wealth) until the 20th century

• Encounters with the other: Expansion Heridotus (5th century BCE)

  
  looked at human differences; accounting for these diversities through what the people themselves did/ human practices (see the emergence of humanistic and scientific tradition)

• Auguste Comte’s theory of stages:

  Idealism: Society’s essence is its belief system - change occurs through advances in reasoning