Understanding Anthropology: A Comprehensive Study of Humanity

1. A. What is anthropology? Anthropology is the complete, and over all view and study of Humans. It starts with the beginning of man as we discover the earliest of remains, up until present time. It also covers the similarities and differences between humans, biologically, culturally, and socially.

B. What does kottak mean when he labels anthropology as a humanistic science? I think that he means, it is a scientific approach on how to collect data, in order to compare the things that make us humans the same, and what makes us different. Including things like, the foods we eat, where we live, what was our cultural impacts on our lives, and how did we adapt to our environment.

C. Describe the five subfields of anthropology? Holistic: is the

In your own words define Cultural relativism, and ethnocentrism. To me Cultural relativism means that I’m from my culture, and if I’m studying another culture, I should not judge it, just except it as it is. And that all the cultures in the world are equal to each other. Ethnocentrism means to me that my culture is always right, and better than all the rest. I once talked to an Amish man who said to me that if it did not bother him or anyone that he loved, that it was not any of his business what I did. It would be my sin alone, and he did not care what sin I did commit. What he described to me, was how to have been raised in a cultural relativism environment. The radical Islamic extremists will kill anyone who is homosexual, or an Infidel, because they believe that it is a sin that should be punished by death. They show ethnocentrism be forcing the cultural beliefs onto all the rest of the world, and will use force, even murder to combat anything that is against their cultural belief

What is the value of anthropology? When applied it can use knowledge and techniques to identify, assess, and solve practical problems. It has many applications, from medical, to public education, to cultural resource managers who work for the Federal government. It is relevant to modern life, because it is practiced in modern life, and across all time and space. How can understanding of anthropology help all of us understand each other? Well If we can apply the principle of cultural relativism to our own life, and then be able to look at the whole picture of some one else’s culture, without judging, just excepting. Then perhaps we have a start at world peace. How might anthropology apply to your future career aspirations? I have been trained as a nurse. We are to be non-judgmental with all patients, no matter of their race, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, criminal background, or religion. So I have had to put into practice a lot of what anthropology what’s me to do. I have found myself asking different people where they are from, and what is it like there. I find that most times it brings a smile to their face as they tell me about their home. And they end up trusting me, which is what I need in order to help them. I guess I would like to develop those skills even