RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOLOGY AND OTHER
DISCIPLINES
Whether anthropology should be included withn natural
science or social science is the debate on which anthropologists differ.
In the beginning, it was considered as natural science under the
influence of evolution. It has not been clear to many anthropologists
wheather they regard anthropology as a natural science or social
science. Malinowski, a Polish born British anthropologist, states that
culture is a means to satisfy bio-psychological needs of human. In this
way, according to hi, anthropology stands in between natural science
and social science.
1) Anthropology and Biological science
Anthropology is the science of human. But biology examines all
living organisms including human. Both the subject analyse origin,
evolution, heridity, variation and anatomical and psychological features
of human being. Charles Darwin is considered the father of both the
subjects.
But these subjects differ in many respects. While biology is
considered a biological science, anthropology is considered a bio-social
science. Biology view human as a biological entity but anthropology
considers the biological and social peculiarities of human. When
biology gives importance to experients anthropology gives importance
to fieldwork.
We know that the subject matter of anthropology is human
diversity. In this, biological diversity is very much significant from the
point of view of human evolution and development. The focus of
biological variation unites five special interets within biological
anthropology.
Human Paleoanthropology(evolution as revealed by the fossil
records)
, Human Genetics
Human growth and development
The evolution, behaviour, and social life of monkeys,apes, and
other non-human primates
These interests link anthropology/biological anthropology to other
fields: biology, zoology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, and public
health. Osteolog- the study of bones- help paleoanthropologists, who
examine skull, teeth, and bones to identify human ancestors and to
chart changes in anatomy overtime. A paleoanthropologist studies the
fossil record of human evolution. They often collaborate with
archaeologists who study artifacts, in reconstructing biological and
cultural aspects of human evolution. Different types of tools provide the
information about the habits,customs, and life styles of the ancestral
human who used.
Genetics, one of the fields of anthropology/biological anthropology
enlightens the causes and transmission of variations. During the life
time of any individual, the environment works along with the heredity
to determine biological features. For example, people with a genetis
tendency to be tall will be shorter if they are poorly nourished during
childhood. The area of human growth and developments investigates
the influence of environment on the body and how it grows af matures.
Anthropology along with zoology shares the areas of primatology.
The primates include our closest relatives-apes and monkeys.
Primatologidts study their anatomy and physiology, evolution, behviour
and social life often in their natural environments. Primatology can
assist paleoanthropology,as primate behaviour may shed light on early
human behaviuor and human nature. For much of the 20 th century, the
concept of popular medicine or folk medicine, has been familiar to both
medical practitioners and anthropologists. The term was also used to
describe the health practices of aborgines in different parts of the world
with particular emphasis on their ethno-botanical knowledge.
The concept o folk medicine was takenup by professional
anthropologists in the first half of the 20 th century to demarcate
between magical practices, medicine and religion to explore the roe and
the significance of the popular healers and their self medicating
practices.
DISCIPLINES
Whether anthropology should be included withn natural
science or social science is the debate on which anthropologists differ.
In the beginning, it was considered as natural science under the
influence of evolution. It has not been clear to many anthropologists
wheather they regard anthropology as a natural science or social
science. Malinowski, a Polish born British anthropologist, states that
culture is a means to satisfy bio-psychological needs of human. In this
way, according to hi, anthropology stands in between natural science
and social science.
1) Anthropology and Biological science
Anthropology is the science of human. But biology examines all
living organisms including human. Both the subject analyse origin,
evolution, heridity, variation and anatomical and psychological features
of human being. Charles Darwin is considered the father of both the
subjects.
But these subjects differ in many respects. While biology is
considered a biological science, anthropology is considered a bio-social
science. Biology view human as a biological entity but anthropology
considers the biological and social peculiarities of human. When
biology gives importance to experients anthropology gives importance
to fieldwork.
We know that the subject matter of anthropology is human
diversity. In this, biological diversity is very much significant from the
point of view of human evolution and development. The focus of
biological variation unites five special interets within biological
anthropology.
Human Paleoanthropology(evolution as revealed by the fossil
records)
, Human Genetics
Human growth and development
The evolution, behaviour, and social life of monkeys,apes, and
other non-human primates
These interests link anthropology/biological anthropology to other
fields: biology, zoology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, and public
health. Osteolog- the study of bones- help paleoanthropologists, who
examine skull, teeth, and bones to identify human ancestors and to
chart changes in anatomy overtime. A paleoanthropologist studies the
fossil record of human evolution. They often collaborate with
archaeologists who study artifacts, in reconstructing biological and
cultural aspects of human evolution. Different types of tools provide the
information about the habits,customs, and life styles of the ancestral
human who used.
Genetics, one of the fields of anthropology/biological anthropology
enlightens the causes and transmission of variations. During the life
time of any individual, the environment works along with the heredity
to determine biological features. For example, people with a genetis
tendency to be tall will be shorter if they are poorly nourished during
childhood. The area of human growth and developments investigates
the influence of environment on the body and how it grows af matures.
Anthropology along with zoology shares the areas of primatology.
The primates include our closest relatives-apes and monkeys.
Primatologidts study their anatomy and physiology, evolution, behviour
and social life often in their natural environments. Primatology can
assist paleoanthropology,as primate behaviour may shed light on early
human behaviuor and human nature. For much of the 20 th century, the
concept of popular medicine or folk medicine, has been familiar to both
medical practitioners and anthropologists. The term was also used to
describe the health practices of aborgines in different parts of the world
with particular emphasis on their ethno-botanical knowledge.
The concept o folk medicine was takenup by professional
anthropologists in the first half of the 20 th century to demarcate
between magical practices, medicine and religion to explore the roe and
the significance of the popular healers and their self medicating
practices.
