Anthropology * derived from the Greek words anthropus meaning “man”, “human” and logus, meaning study * the study of mankind * the science that treats of the origin, development (physical, intellectual, moral, etc.) and especially the cultural development, customs, beliefs, etc, of man. * the science of man and his work (Herskovitz) * the scientific study of physical, social, and cultural development and behavior of human beings since their appearance on earth. (Jacobs and Stem) * the study of humankind, everywhere, throughout time, seeks to produce useful generalization about people and their behavior and to arrive at the fullest possible understanding of human diversity * the study of humankind, in all times and places
The Discipline of Anthropology
Anthropology is traditionally divided into four fields: physical anthropology and the three branches of cultural anthropology, which are archeology, linguistics anthropology, and ethnology.
The sub-fields of anthropology are shown below.
Anthropology * physical anthropology – concerned primarily with humans as biological organism * cultural anthropology – deals with humans as cultural animals; the branch of anthropology that focuses on human behavior * archeology – studies materials remains, usually in order to describe and explain human behavior * linguistic anthropology – studies human language * ethnology or social anthropology – studies cultures from the historical point of view.
Relation of Anthropology to other Sciences
Physical anthropology is related to the biological sciences – anatomy, embryology, physiology, and genetics. Social anthropology is related to sociology, psychology, geography, economics, and political science; is likewise related to the humanistic disciplines, such as history, literature, art, and music.
Practical Application of Anthropology * reduces ethnocentrism by instilling appreciation of