History of Anthropology& Biological ANTH Flashcards
What are some of the impacts from the Enlightenment on modern biological anthropology? What were some views of people and material culture before this?
- Results in an impact of Science in Nature
-Material culture as an index of social change
-Darwinian evolution by Natural Selection
-Before the Enlightenment people were governed by belief systems like religion. The understandings of earths origins was directly correlated with the biblical understanding. The earth was young, world of the past similar to the world today.
How have the histories of the fields of geology and ecology related to the origins of biological anthropology?
Ecology and geology predate anthropology and anthropologically studies are grounded in ecology and geology. The development of scientific discoveries in the fields of geology and ecology related in an increased understanding of earths origins which helped develop the field of anthropology.
What is the difference between the Law of Superposition and the Law of Association? Why are these important to field studies?
- The law of Superposition is that sedimentary layers are deposited in a time sequence with the oldest on bottom and the youngest on top. The law of association is artifact/human remains in the same context, dates to the same period.
How has Darwinian evolution impacted the field of biological anthropology?
- Darwinian evolution completely changed previous ways of thinking, his theory changed the way humans theorized about evolution.
How is Lamarckian evolution different from Darwinian evolution??
Lamarckian theory was that species could inherit acquired characteristics for example the elongation of giraffe necks overtime being passed through generations. Darwinian evolution differs because Darwinian evolution happens at the cellular level, and desirable traits cannot be developed in passed on in the same life span.
Who coined the phrase survival of the fittest and how does it relate to Social Darwinism?
-Herbert Spencer, “survival of the fittest” relates to social Darwinism because it discriminated against marginalized members of society and declared them as unfit. While putting other groups such as white men at the top of the hierarchy for “fitness”.
What are some examples of how evolution has been controversial?
- Evolution has been controversial for many reasons, evolution is controversial because of ideas such as Social Darwinism. Where people tried to use science to justify their own racist political and social ideologies. For example, ideas such as Social Darwinism started the idea of Eugenics which was a policy implemented by the United States that sterilized woman without their consent.
