Nature, Goals, and Perspectives of Anthropology, Sociology & Political Science

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms, perspectives, and goals discussed in the lecture on anthropology, sociology, and political science.

Anthropology

The study of humans, emphasizing biological evolution and cultural practices.

Anthropos

Greek word meaning “human,” forming part of the term anthropology.

Logos (in Anthropology)

Greek word meaning “study” or “inquiry,” combined with anthropos to form anthropology.

Comparative Emphasis (Anthropology)

Perspective that compares different cultures and societies to illuminate similarities and differences.

Evolutionary Emphasis

Anthropological focus on describing patterns of human change over time.

Holistic Emphasis

Assumption that any aspect of human life must be studied in relation to all other aspects.

Ecological Emphasis

Investigation of complex interactions between people and their environment.

Anthropology as a Global Discipline

Field that blends humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to explore human diversity worldwide.

Early Anthropologists

Naturalists, doctors, missionaries, or explorers driven by curiosity to record ‘strange’ peoples objectively.

Birth of Anthropology as a Discipline

Formal establishment of anthropology in late-19th-century universities of North America and Europe.

Fossil Record Goal (Anthropology)

Comprehend fossils of early humans and archaeological records of ancient societies.

Human Adaptation Goal

Understand how humans adjust to varied environmental conditions and vary as a species.

Primate Behavior Goal

Study the conduct of monkeys and gorillas to inform human evolution and behavior.

Applied Anthropology

Use anthropological knowledge to address issues such as poverty and substance addiction.

Sociology

The study of society; from Latin ‘socius’ (companion) and Greek ‘logos’ (study).

Perspective of Sociology

Viewpoint that society is a social construct, challenging what is ‘normal’ and seeing change as possible.

Policy Reflection Goal (Sociology)

Provide information that informs and evaluates public policy initiatives.

Population & Environment Goal

Analyze how population composition and pressures affect environment and societal development.

Political Science

Study of the nature, causes, and consequences of collective decisions within cultures and institutions.

Aristotle

Classical philosopher regarded as the Father of Political Science; coined the phrase 'Man is a political animal.'

"Man is a political animal"

Aristotle’s assertion highlighting humans’ inherent tendency toward political association.

Development Impact Goal (Political Science)

Examine how growth, industrialization, and change influence governmental forms and policies.

Comparative Systems Goal

Describe how various political systems operate and seek more effective alternatives.

Governance Evaluation

Measure policy success through indicators like stability and justice.

Political Science Perspective

Employs primary sources, secondary literature, surveys, statistics, and case studies for inquiry.

Socius

Latin term meaning companion or associate; root of the word sociology.