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Guys, I have started this new thread as other anthro threads are lying dormant.We can together practice previous year questions and improve our answer writing skills.We can pick up questions from one topic every day and answer it.It will help us in completing the whole syllabus.I will try to write as many answers as possible and request others to contribute.
Why has the concept of Cultural Relativism been so dear to anthropologists?
Culture Relativism can be defined as a method where different cultures are analyzed objectively without using the values of one's own culture to judge the worth of another. It was a response to Western Ethnocentrism which gave exalted status to their own culture in their minds and viewed other societies from those lenses. It tried to make anthropological study as un-ethnocentric as possible. Ethnocentrism leads the people into believing that their ideas, beliefs and ways of living is superior to others. This feeling biases their judgement while analysing traits and beliefs of other societies. Franz Boaz, influenced by great philosopher Immanuel Kant, was a leading proponent of Cultural Relativism. He argued that beliefs and practices are shaped by the societies they are prevalent in. They are not inherently good or bad. They must be analysed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of the society. e.g. fooding or clothing habits of people in tropics are different than that of colder regions due to difference in temperature and humidity. Worshipping of cows might seem illogical to western people but this practice developed in India as a means to take care of cows which gives various benefits such as milk, manure etc to humans since ancient times. Cultural Relativism helps anthropologist to do objective analysis of different culture without any preconceived notions. It makes anthropologists more inclusive, open minded and culturally sensitive. Since it is difficult to study a culture ignoring our unconscious bonds with our own culture, it also forces anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategy.
Cultural relativism is the principle that all cultural patterns are equally valid and hence every culture or its part should be viewed in terms of its own logic and rationale. Which implies that it should not judge others by their own standards.
It was in sheer response to western ethnocentrisim which held the belief that western society is superior to the primitive society and whites were superior to the colored or blacks to justify European colonialism and domination of non-western countries.The intolerance for other cultures their differences and variations made it a popular concept among anthroplogists.
Among them was Franz boas and his students who viewed it from ethical position. When he forcefully rejected any correlation between race and level of cultural evolution which was used to imply the superiority of western white culture.
He argued that belief and practices are shaped by the societies they are prevalent in. For example for a devout or conservative hindu the very idea of beef eating may be obnoxious but the vast majority of tribal population, christians muslims and ower caste hindus society consume and relish beef. therefore the food habits of this gp shoeld not viwed in terms of non-eaters only.In order to fully understand the behavior one has to maintain a posture of neutrality and anlyse it in terms of internally consistent logic and rationale of the group practicing it.
Copying ur conclusion
Cultural Relativism helps anthropologist to do objective analysis of different culture without any preconceived notions. It makes anthropologists more inclusive, open minded and culturally sensitive. Since it is difficult to study a culture ignoring our unconscious bonds with our own culture, it also forces anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategy.
Cultural relativism is the principle that all cultural patterns are equally valid and hence every culture or its part should be viewed in terms of its own logic and rationale. Which implies that it should not judge others by their own standards.
It was in sheer response to western ethnocentrisim which held the belief that western society is superior to the primitive society and whites were superior to the colored or blacks to justify European colonialism and domination of non-western countries.The intolerance for other cultures their differences and variations made it a popular concept among anthroplogists.
Among them was Franz boas and his students who viewed it from ethical position. When he forcefully rejected any correlation between race and level of cultural evolution which was used to imply the superiority of western white culture.
He argued that belief and practices are shaped by the societies they are prevalent in. For example for a devout or conservative hindu the very idea of beef eating may be obnoxious but the vast majority of tribal population, christians muslims and ower caste hindus society consume and relish beef. therefore the food habits of this gp shoeld not viwed in terms of non-eaters only.In order to fully understand the behavior one has to maintain a posture of neutrality and anlyse it in terms of internally consistent logic and rationale of the group practicing it.
Copying ur conclusion
Cultural Relativism helps anthropologist to do objective analysis of different culture without any preconceived notions. It makes anthropologists more inclusive, open minded and culturally sensitive. Since it is difficult to study a culture ignoring our unconscious bonds with our own culture, it also forces anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategy.
Why has the concept of Cultural Relativism been so dear to anthropologists?
Culture Relativism can be defined as a method where different cultures are analyzed objectively without using the values of one's own culture to judge the worth of another. It was a response to Western Ethnocentrism which gave exalted status to their own culture in their minds and viewed other societies from those lenses. It tried to make anthropological study as un-ethnocentric as possible. Ethnocentrism leads the people into believing that their ideas, beliefs and ways of living is superior to others. This feeling biases their judgement while analysing traits and beliefs of other societies. Franz Boaz, influenced by great philosopher Immanuel Kant, was a leading proponent of Cultural Relativism. He argued that beliefs and practices are shaped by the societies they are prevalent in. They are not inherently good or bad. They must be analysed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of the society. e.g. fooding or clothing habits of people in tropics are different than that of colder regions due to difference in temperature and humidity. Worshipping of cows might seem illogical to western people but this practice developed in India as a means to take care of cows which gives various benefits such as milk, manure etc to humans since ancient times. Cultural Relativism helps anthropologist to do objective analysis of different culture without any preconceived notions. It makes anthropologists more inclusive, open minded and culturally sensitive. Since it is difficult to study a culture ignoring our unconscious bonds with our own culture, it also forces anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategy.
your answer is vague and repetitive... it seems a patchwork from different resources..
it is a debate between scientific approach scholars like evolutionists and humanist scholars like Boas, interpretative/symbolic and cognitive anthropologists.. bring out that aspect...
anthropologists take a holistic approach .. then only cultural seems meaningful and hence comes cultural relativism.. early scholars used cross cultural analysis of individual traits and found them awkward.. eg: Boas insisted colect as much data as posible and they will speak for themselves...
eg: are not that good.. Kuru cannibalism is good example.. with it explain how it has led to certain disease in them... so not all cultural practices are good and anthropologist must learn to separate moral relativism and cultural relativism
infact ethnocentrism is good but not for anthropologists.. ethnocentrism has its own role of uniting people of a group..
regarding ur objective analysis.. what about post modernists.. ???..
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Comments
Culture Relativism can be defined as a method where different cultures are analyzed objectively without using the values of one's own culture to judge the worth of another. It was a response to Western Ethnocentrism which gave exalted status to their own culture in their minds and viewed other societies from those lenses. It tried to make anthropological study as un-ethnocentric as possible.
Ethnocentrism leads the people into believing that their ideas, beliefs and ways of living is superior to others. This feeling biases their judgement while analysing traits and beliefs of other societies. Franz Boaz, influenced by great philosopher Immanuel Kant, was a leading proponent of Cultural Relativism. He argued that beliefs and practices are shaped by the societies they are prevalent in. They are not inherently good or bad. They must be analysed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of the society. e.g. fooding or clothing habits of people in tropics are different than that of colder regions due to difference in temperature and humidity. Worshipping of cows might seem illogical to western people but this practice developed in India as a means to take care of cows which gives various benefits such as milk, manure etc to humans since ancient times.
Cultural Relativism helps anthropologist to do objective analysis of different culture without any preconceived notions. It makes anthropologists more inclusive, open minded and culturally sensitive. Since it is difficult to study a culture ignoring our unconscious bonds with our own culture, it also forces anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategy.
It was in sheer response to western ethnocentrisim which held the belief that western society is superior to the primitive society and whites were superior to the colored or blacks to justify European colonialism and domination of non-western countries.The intolerance for other cultures their differences and variations made it a popular concept among anthroplogists.
Among them was Franz boas and his students who viewed it from ethical position. When he forcefully rejected any correlation between race and level of cultural evolution which was used to imply the superiority of western white culture.
He argued that belief and practices are shaped by the societies they are prevalent in.
For example for a devout or conservative hindu the very idea of beef eating may be obnoxious but the vast majority of tribal population, christians muslims and ower caste hindus society consume and relish beef. therefore the food habits of this gp shoeld not viwed in terms of non-eaters only.In order to fully understand the behavior one has to maintain a posture of neutrality and anlyse it in terms of internally consistent logic and rationale of the group practicing it.
Copying ur conclusion
Cultural Relativism helps anthropologist to do objective analysis of different culture without any preconceived notions. It makes anthropologists more inclusive, open minded and culturally sensitive. Since it is difficult to study a culture ignoring our unconscious bonds with our own culture, it also forces anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategy.
It was in sheer response to western ethnocentrisim which held the belief that western society is superior to the primitive society and whites were superior to the colored or blacks to justify European colonialism and domination of non-western countries.The intolerance for other cultures their differences and variations made it a popular concept among anthroplogists.
Among them was Franz boas and his students who viewed it from ethical position. When he forcefully rejected any correlation between race and level of cultural evolution which was used to imply the superiority of western white culture.
He argued that belief and practices are shaped by the societies they are prevalent in.
For example for a devout or conservative hindu the very idea of beef eating may be obnoxious but the vast majority of tribal population, christians muslims and ower caste hindus society consume and relish beef. therefore the food habits of this gp shoeld not viwed in terms of non-eaters only.In order to fully understand the behavior one has to maintain a posture of neutrality and anlyse it in terms of internally consistent logic and rationale of the group practicing it.
Copying ur conclusion
Cultural Relativism helps anthropologist to do objective analysis of different culture without any preconceived notions. It makes anthropologists more inclusive, open minded and culturally sensitive. Since it is difficult to study a culture ignoring our unconscious bonds with our own culture, it also forces anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategy.
it is a debate between scientific approach scholars like evolutionists and humanist scholars like Boas, interpretative/symbolic and cognitive anthropologists.. bring out that aspect...
anthropologists take a holistic approach .. then only cultural seems meaningful and hence comes cultural relativism.. early scholars used cross cultural analysis of individual traits and found them awkward.. eg: Boas insisted colect as much data as posible and they will speak for themselves...
eg: are not that good.. Kuru cannibalism is good example.. with it explain how it has led to certain disease in them... so not all cultural practices are good and anthropologist must learn to separate moral relativism and cultural relativism
infact ethnocentrism is good but not for anthropologists.. ethnocentrism has its own role of uniting people of a group..
regarding ur objective analysis.. what about post modernists.. ???..