The 'central problem of anthropology is the diversity of human life' Explain.

The ?central trouble of anthropology is the diversity of pitying life? (Carrithers 1992:2; see also, Erikson 2001:5)?The major(ip) problem of anthropology is the diversity if merciful life. The bulky clasp of assimilations and societies, all with contrastive values, make it almost unsurmountable to positioning exactly what benevolence is. except, despite these differences, in that respect ar inherent similarities. overdue to the diversity of human life galore(postnominal) anthropologists squander problems upon)ing unalike cultures and steps have been made to make punter this so anthropologists can study cultures as objectively as attainable. Anthropologists ar set the task of trying to comprehend the thousands of varied cultures and societies throughout the world, individually of which is individual and has its proclaim characteristics. This huge prescribe of different beliefs, values, religions, customs, foods, dress etc. make is incredibly would-be(p renominal) to try and comprehend exactly what these cultures have in common. Erikson (2001:9) claims the canonic meaning of anthropology is ?know guidege about humans?, but this leaves the problem, how argon anthropologists to boost knowledge about humans when humanity is so different, and there is so little in common amongst those societies and cultures? However there is also the contention that despite their differences, there atomic number 18 mappings of humanity that remain uniformly the same, no matter what the cultural or social environment is. in spite of the differences in societies there be also some similarities. at that place are no societies with only champion soulfulness. This leads to the idea that the major similarity amidst societies is humans overwhelming need to palisade themselves with former(a) passel. Carrithers (1992:1) believes that being social is at the actually affection of humanity. He because claims that anthropologist should not reg ard humans as individuals, but so wizardr as! part of a big society. Carrithers (1992:6) also presents the argument that an otherwise similarity is the biological and evolutionary similarity mingled with humans, no matter what their culture. Humans are the only species, which has culture, which could be argued as another similarity of humanity. condescension these apparent similarities the differences between societies is immense which causes a major problem in tug ining a society that is so different. When canvas societies, anthropologists discover the difficulties in objectively observing and reporting the modus vivendi of the people in this society. Due to the diversity of humanity, some societies deviate greatly from what anthropologists are use to. It has become necessary that, in order to richly comprehend the ways of these societies, you must richy immerse yourself in them. This is possible through fieldwork, with Erikson (2001:10) claiming, ?its [anthropologies] most central method is fieldwork?. finished f ieldwork anthropologists can in force(p)y begin to learn the complexities of the society they have decided to study. In order for an anthropologist to gain this insight they must immerse themselves in the society for a number of years and have the cleverness to speak the verbiage of their chosen society fluently. Fieldwork is a very important part in understanding different societies and overcoming the diverse nature of humanity. However, purge while doing fieldwork anthropologists may unintentionally barge in their own prejudices into their findings. end-to-end history anthropologists have proveed to understand society and culture on a variety of cost, umteen of which have led to societies being judged negatively because of their differences. This is referred to as ethnocentrism, that is, ?evaluating other people from one?s own vantage- train and describing them in one?s own terms? (Erikson 2001:11).

With this view anthropologists cannot look at societies and cultures objectively and they then cannot fully understand them. This is often unintentional, steady today. An anthropologist may be interested in a societies economy, that this society may not have what the anthropologist defines as an economy. A major agent that causes this mentality is the huge diversity of human life and people?s inability to comprehend something that is so completely different from their own perspectives. Modern anthropologists therefore approach to ?understand every society on its own terms? (Erikson 2001:2). They attempt to be ethnical relativists. Cultural relativism is the understanding that humanity is diverse, and the belief that each society has their own values therefore you cannot compare them with other societies. However it is not always possible to uphold cultural relativism. For example as a person you may be morally against cannibalism, however as an anthropologist you attempt to maintain cultural relativism and understand the value of this ritual to its society. Through their study of the sundry(a) cultures and societies, anthropologist?s largest problem is the vast diversity in human life. Each society is so different to the point where it?s questioned if they have anything in common at all. virtually authors, such(prenominal) as Carrither?s argue that despite these differences there are similarities while Erikson tries to explain how this problem can be scoop by objectively immersing oneself in the culture. Sources CitedEriksen, T. H. 2001. Small Places, Large Issues An penetration to Social and Cultural Anthropology. UK: Pluto PressCarrithers, M. 1992. Why Humans ready Cultures. New York: Oxford Universit y Press If ! you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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