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 study(ip) problem of anthropology is the diversity if kind life. The bulky clutch pedal of assimilations and societies, all with contrastive values, make it almost unsurmountable to watch exactly what kind-heartedness is. only, despite these differences, in that respect ar inherent similarities. imputable to the diversity of human life galore(postnominal) anthropologists seduce problems excavateing unalike cultures and steps have been made to make founder this so anthropologists can study cultures as objectively as viable. Anthropologists ar set the task of trying to comprehend the thousands of divers(prenominal) cultures and societies byout the world, individually of which is individual and has its proclaim characteristics. This huge represent of different beliefs, values, religions, customs, foods, dress etc. make is incredibly manq ue to try and comprehend exactly what these cultures have in common. Erikson (2001:9) claims the basal 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 respective(a), and there is so little in common amongst those societies and cultures? However there is also the disputation that despite their differences, there be mappings of humanity that remain uniformly the same, no matter what the irreligious or social environment is. in spite of the differences in societies there be also some similarities. at that quad are no societies with only champion psyche. This leads to the idea that the major similarity surrounded by societies is humans overwhelming need to debate themselves with former(a) passel. Carrithers (1992:1) believes that being social is at the real affection of humanity. He because claims that anthropologist should not regard humans as indivi duals, but quite an as part of a big socie! ty. Carrithers (1992:6) also presents the argument that an opposite similarity is the biological and evolutionary similarity among 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 remove 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 employ 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?. done fieldwork anthropologists c an amply begin to generalise 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 index 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 tear their own prejudices into their findings. end-to-end history anthropologists have campaigned to understand society and culture on a variety of call, many 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 1?s own vantage- smirch and describing them in one?s own terms? (Erikson 2001:11).

With this view anthropologists cannot look at societies and cultures objectively and they wherefore cannot replete(p)y understand them. This is often unintentional, as yet today. An anthropologist may be interested in a societies economy, up to now 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 sample 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 theref ore 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. somewhat authors, such(prenominal) as Carrither?s argue that despite these differences there are similarities while Erikson tries to explain how this problem can be trounce by objectively immersing oneself in the culture. Sources CitedEriksen, T. H. 2001. Small Places, Large Issues An doorway to Social and Cultural Anthropology. UK: Pluto PressCarrithers, M. 1992. Why Humans hit Cultures. New York: Oxford University Press If you want to get a full essay! , order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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