The Evolution of Anthropological Thought MCQs topic discusses the evolution of anthropological theory and ideas through time. This encompasses how early anthropological thinking developed the discipline and how the discipline grew into a holistic study of human societies, cultures, and evolution. Knowledge of the evolution of anthropological thought is important for CSS Competitive Exams since it offers insight into the methodologies and paradigms that have characterized the discipline.
Early Anthropological Thought
Early anthropological thought was shaped to a great extent by the Western scientific revolution and the search for knowledge about the origins and nature of human beings. Scholars such as Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Charles Darwin helped shape the biological side of anthropology by proposing evolutionary ideas. Early anthropology did, however, tend to be comparative in nature, and comparative in its attempts to grade cultures from “primitive” to “civilized.” Edward B. Tylor and Lewis Henry Morgan were leaders in this phase, and proposed that societies went through stages, from simple to complex, a theory which is now deemed simplistic and ethnocentric. Early anthropology was flawed, but it provided the groundwork for modern understanding of culture and society.
The Emergence of Cultural Relativism and Fieldwork
By the early 20th century, anthropology had abandoned large-scale theories of social evolution and turned its attention more to the close observation of cultures through first-hand experience and fieldwork. Franz Boas, also known as the “father of American anthropology,” refuted the previous evolutionary hypotheses and brought about the theory of cultural relativism, which states that cultures must be interpreted on their own terms, not compared to the standards of another culture. This change was supported by the methodological strategy of participant observation, created by Bronislaw Malinowski, which became the basis of contemporary ethnographic fieldwork. These developments were a significant shift in anthropological thinking, focusing on cultural variation and the value of empirical studies.
Structuralism and Post-Structuralism
In the mid-20th century, Claude Lévi-Strauss developed structuralism, which was concerned with the study of underlying structures of human thought and culture. Structuralism argued that human societies have universal patterns of thought, and that these patterns are mirrored in myths, languages, and social structures. This theory had a profound influence on anthropology, providing a new perspective for understanding culture. Subsequently, post-structuralism, drawing on thinkers like Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida, critiqued structuralism for its fixed structures and instead highlighted the fluidity of culture and power relations that determine social realities. Post-structuralism highlighted the significance of language, discourse, and subjectivity in analyzing cultural practices.
In summary, the Evolution of Anthropological Thought is an important subject for CSS candidates, as it gives an overview of how the field has evolved over time, from early evolutionary theory to modern approaches that focus on cultural relativism and post-structural analysis. By knowing the evolution of anthropological thought, students are able to appreciate the various theories that guide current anthropological research and practice. Mastery of this subject equips candidates to answer questions related to the historical development of anthropology and its current theoretical orientations.
