Definition of Anthropology
From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)
The word Anthropology breaks down to the Greek words “Anthropos” meaning man, and “logos” meaning word in Modern Greek and Knowledge or reason in ancient Greek. Generally Anthropology is defined as the study of humans, or the study of what it means to be human.
Anthropology is grouped together with other disciplines such as economics and politics. Collectively this group is known as the behavioral or social sciences. Behavioral Science is a way of studying humans by applying the scientific method to that study. In this we can see how economics, political science, and Anthropology are a like, in that while each discipline looks at different aspects of humanity, all apply the scientific method to their studies.
Anthropology differs from its behavioral science counterparts in its approach called holism. Holism is a way for anthropologists to study human societies throughout the world and across time by studying them as integrated wholes. This means that even though an anthropologist may be studying the religion of a community, he or he will also look at what function the religion serves to the community.
Anthropology can be broken into 4 subdivisions. Those subdivisions are Physical/Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Archeology, and Linguistics.
Physical/Biological Anthropology is the study of human evolution and biology. Primatelogy, genetics, and paleontology fall under this sub discipline.
Cultural Anthropology studies living human societies. A cultural Anthropologist may study various aspects of human culture such as marriage, economics, religion, death practices etc. Cultural Anthropology is the largest area of anthropological study.
Archeology is the study of the physical (mummies/fossils) and cultural (ancient tools, buildings) remains.
Linguistics is the study of human languages and how they evolved. A linguist may study ancient writing and compare them with more modern samples, or study how key physical biological areas (certain brain regions, or the larynx) evolved.
--PhantomQueen 06:27, 30 March 2006 (CST)
Book of THoTH forum links for Anthropology:
Archaeology/Anthropology Resources
