1001:2020:1.1.2
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1001:2020:1.1.2 [2020/02/04 22:18] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | 1001:2020:1.1.2 [2020/03/01 21:16] (current) – [The universal and the particular] Ryan Schram (admin) | ||
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~~DECKJS~~ | ~~DECKJS~~ | ||
- | ====== Humans are natural | + | # The universal |
- | ===== Humans are natural | + | ## The universal |
Ryan Schram | Ryan Schram | ||
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Wednesday, February 26, 2020 (Week 1) | Wednesday, February 26, 2020 (Week 1) | ||
- | Available at http:// | + | Available at http:// |
==== Required readings ==== | ==== Required readings ==== | ||
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Thomas Hylland Eriksen “A Brief History of Anthropology, | Thomas Hylland Eriksen “A Brief History of Anthropology, | ||
- | ===== References ===== | ||
- | Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. “A Brief History of Anthropology.” In //Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology//, | + | ===== Anthropology |
+ | Google “define holistic” and you get | ||
- | ———. “Anthropology: | + | **holistic** / |
+ | |||
+ | * (Philosophy) characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The opposite of a holistic explanation is a reductionist explanation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== People are the same and different ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | For instance, I argue that everything about human beings can be located somewhere in a space with two dimensions, like a [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | The horizontal dimension is better labeled as “particular” on the right (+) and “universal” on the left (-). | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Universal traits are common to all. Particular traits are those that make something different from others (but not necessarily unique). | ||
+ | |||
+ | The vertical axis is better labeled as “acquired” on the top (+) and “innate” on the bottom (-). | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Acquired traits are learned, unlike innate traits which are automatic, essential or fixed, that is, one is born with them. Hence, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Human life in a two-dimensional space ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | Quadrant II (top left) contains all the traits that are < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | Quadrant I (top right) contains all the traits that are < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | Quadrant III (bottom left) contains all the traits that < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | Quadrant IV (bottom right) contains all the traits that are < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | You can see a version of this table on page 54 of (Eriksen 2015c). | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Quiz! (Or, rather, Survey!) ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Let’s take a survey in the Canvas section for quizzes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Go on the class Canvas site now. Go to Quizzes and take the in-lecture survey for today, February 26. (Scroll down for the “Surveys” section on the Quizzes page.) | ||
+ | |||
+ | This question does not have a right answer. We are using the question as a survey to see what you all think. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== The key word is “culture” ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Many, many things people do are acquired patterns, and are particular to their environment. They are cultural, not natural. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Examples: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * //Liget// (anger) among the Ilongot of the Philippines (Rosaldo 1984, 1989 [2009]) | ||
+ | * Dreams in Auhelawa, Papua New Guinea | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Taking back the culture concept ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Culture is often an overused word. For anthropologists who are interested in the acquired and the particular, it is often a misused word. This class is about taking back the word culture. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Culture is not just people’s identity | ||
+ | * Culture is usually implicit and invisible, like a habit, not obvious or deliberate expression | ||
+ | * One’s culture is not just what makes people different from each other. Everyone needs to acquire patterns from a shared culture to be complete. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ## References | ||
+ | |||
+ | Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. 2015a. “A Brief History of Anthropology.” In //Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology//, | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ———. 2015b. “Anthropology: | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ———. 2015c. //Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology// | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Rosaldo, Michelle Z. 1984. “Toward an Anthropology of Self and Feeling.” In //Culture Theory: Essays on Mind, Self and Emotion//, edited by Richard A. Shweder and Robert A. LeVine, 137–57. Cambridge University Press. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Rosaldo, Renato. (1989) 2009. “Grief and a Headhunter’s Rage.” In //Death, Mourning, and Burial: A Cross-Cultural Reader//, edited by Antonius C. G. M. Robben, 167–78. Malden, Mass.: John Wiley & Sons. | ||
1001/2020/1.1.2.1580883519.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/02/04 22:18 by 127.0.0.1