Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology

Introduction

The field of anthropology is often associated with the search for lost tribes, the understanding of ancient civilizations and the study of native peoples. Still, social science researchers think that anthropology has much more to offer ideas on small-scale societies, secret traditional cultures and customs. Kinship has played a very important role in the history of Anthropology. (Eriksen, Thomas. PP 234)

Discussion

Thomas Hylland Eriksen, a Norwegian researcher has written many books on the subject of Anthropology. At present he is a professor at University of Oslo. His famous book “An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology” has a new third edition, which is completely updated with the new ideas of Anthropology and enhances the importance of interdependence of living worlds. This new edition discusses the unique impact of Anthropology on cultural studies and natural sciences. The book has bridged the gap between the classic and contemporary ideas of Anthropology and is necessary for the undergraduate students.

The relationship between Anthropology and Kinship has been one of the conflicting issues in the second half of the nineteenth century. Anthropology, by definition, is the science that studies the origins of humanity and social relations between humans while Kinship is a measurement of human existence which cannot be separated from the ability to produce and provide representations on the links which form the relationship that cannot be separated from the existence of a language expressed. (Monaghan, John. Just, Peter. PP 456)

The evolutionary origins of human kinship until now remain a highly exploratory field. The establishment of a representation of the parentage would have given more weight to the father who therefore could "interfere" in the relationship between the mother and her children, an originality in turn not without consequences psychic development of the latter. However, if the human family is at the same time as the language, we cannot be too careful when to draw the consequences. Kinship is the algebra of anthropology for its terminology and its complexity. Initially, it was developed to study the social structure of primitive or traditional societies, later it was developed to study the evolution of our society. (Holt, Bull. Rinehart, John. & Winston, Sam. PP 45)

Thomas Hylland Eriksen, a professor at University of Oslo, argues that anthropology is an essential instrument to complement other research fields such as psychology and economics, in favor of a solution to many different problems. Eriksen argues that anthropology is, above all, a state of mind that can be applied to any aspect of human life, distinguishing themselves in their dedication to explain human diversity, designed as long-term field work and analyzed through comparative methods.

The increase in the number of students of anthropology and a growing recognition of the potential between the non-academics, suggests this would enable us to understand the world and help solve many of the problems we face, without having, as Eriksen says, a strong passion for the African kinship or exchange of benefits with Polynesia.

He notes that as a means, anthropology offers a ...