Exam 2 ANTH 1000 Eric Williamson Lecture Questions

Explain the Nature vs Nurture debate and its importance to Cultural Anthropology.

figuring out why people act the way they do helps us understand the importance of cultural diversity

What is Social Darwinism? (Remember 3 things)

all by nature, there are individuals and cultures that are superior to others, the superior should dominate the inferior, and the inferior must eventually become extinct

What are the two reasons why understanding Social Darwinism is important to Cultural Anthropology?

It is the foundation of early anthropology and Racist ideas are still believed despite lacking scientific credibility

What is the connection between Anthropology and the other? (essay)

18th century, a group of academics in France who wanted a systematic study to understand human society developed the beginnings of sociology. They only cared about western Europeans however, not Africa, Australia, or other Americas. They didn't look or act like us so they weren't us. Early anthropology was racist in this way.

In the 19th century, these "other" cultures start to matter in the invention of Anthropology. Anthropology is racistly the study of "other" people who are different than us, and less than human.

This relates to social darwinism. By nature, the others can't be fully human because they are different by nature.

You have no voice in who and what you are. I am going to tell you ho and what you are because you are less than human. Why ask because you're not intelligent enough to know who you are or what you are?

What do we mean when we say that the other is a social construction?

The existence of other is a construction of western culture. It was determined by them. In their society. It's not objective.

What is Boundary Maintenance? What are the three ways to use Boundary Maintenance?

Boundary Maintenance is the recognition of difference, first is the neutral observation of difference, second is the positive encouragement of difference, third is the negative fighting against difference

Be able to duplicate the Us/Other dichotomy and explain why it is a form of Boundary Maintenance

Us vs other, rational vs irrational, religion vs superstition , science vs magic, history vs legends, civilized vs savages

What two developments in the West helped to construct the other in the 19th Century? (very likely list question)

Colonialism and science

What are two justifications for Colonialism?

White man's burden and manifest destiny

What does it mean for an Anthropologist to "control the other"

Tame, train, or eliminate

In the 19th century what was the most important science for explaining the natural world?

Evolution

Charles Darwin VS. Herbert Spencer (*Know for exam)

Charles Darwin was not a social darwinist, Herbert Spencer was a social darwinist.

What is meant by the Fossil Other?

Cultures which can no longer change are dead cultures.

Two characteristics of people from Social Darwin perspective

Phenotypes such as physical characteristics and essentialism such as internal characteristics

What are the five elements of Social Darwinism used to construct the notion of race? (*5 List question)

Race, polygenesis, inequality, scientific racism, and the economy

What is Survival of the Fittest to Social Darwinists? To Charles Darwin?

social darwinists think the strong should dominate the weak and charles darwin thinks the ones who have adapted to their environment best fit the survival

What did the term "race" imply?

Race implies that humans belong to distinct population groups which are fundamentally different by nature

How is "race" connected to Political, Economic, and Cultural Institutions?

The truth of race becomes the foundation of our economics, politics, and cultural institutions

What is "Replacement Theory?" (Madison Grant)

conspiracy that the white race is being overwhelmed by the inferior races of the world.

What is Critical Race Theory?

an argument that the United States has normalized and institutionalized race to exploit populations.

Biologically speaking, how many human races are there?

zero

What are three reasons for the rise of anthropology at the end of the 19th Century?

Seek solutions to problems in the west, control the colonized other, and put artfiacts in museums for personal gain.

What was the first Critical Stage for American Anthropology? (late 19th century)

Science vs social darwinism

What are the three contributions made by Franz Boas which make him the "Father of American Antrhopology?" Why is this label ironic?

1st post graduate program in american anthropology, emphasis on fieldwork, and anti social darwinist, ironic because he was a georapher not an anthropologist

Be able to connect Social Darwinism, The White Man's Burden, and the Colonized Other

Interconnected ideas that reflect the ideas and attitudes of western powers during the colonial period

What were the 3 evolutions from adaptive radiation

Interdigital grip, bipedalism, spindel cell increase

What were the two opposing views concerning human origins and diversity at the end of the 19th Century?

Monogenism, all humans descend from one pair ancestor, polygenism, multiple origins with multiple races.

What are the two reasons why Darwinian Evolution is important to Cultural Anthropology?

Scientific explanation of natural reality, disproves social darwinism.

What new discovery in the 19th century in geology helped support evolution?

How old the Earth is

What is the foundation of Darwinian biology?

All life is constantly changing

What are the two processes through which Darwinian biology takes place?

Mutation and adaptive radiation

Explain the impact that geological and climatic change in Africa, millions of years ago, had on human evolution.

Formation of great rift valley, change in climate, expansion of grasslands, tool making emergence

What are the three major adaptions which shaped human evolution as hominids adapted from life in the rain forest to life on the savannah?

Interdigital grip, bipedialism, more spindel cells

What are the nine characteristics which make Homo Erectus our closest ancient relative?

Large brain, the make and use of tools, the make and use of fire, hunting, socialization, abstract thinking, bury the dead, bipedialism, east africa migration

Where is the cradle of humanity?

East africa

What does "Out of Africa" mean?

We all migrated out of Africa in order to survive

What is Ethnicity?

Categories of human diversity.

Explain how Ethnicity is biological. Explain how Ethnicity is cultural.

Not all Africans have dark skin but they may be similar culturally and be same ethnicity.

What was the adaptive radiation process which created ethnicity?

The Great Rift Valley migration

What is the connection between migration, human diversity, and the future of humanity?

migration caused diversity which led to a more prosperous future

What are the 5 conditions which will influence future human evolution?

Adaptation, ethnic mixing, new diets and drugs, new diseases, genetic manipulation

What is the Great Rift Valley?

Seperates east and west africa, much of our evolution took place in east africa