Anthropology: The Fundamental Social Science Essay

SAMPLE EXCERPT . . .
Some examples include economics, geography, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Because of its all-encompassing ability to understand the human experience from multiple perspectives, anthropology sets the stage for other Social Science disciplines. It allows linguistics to study language out of an understanding that humans live in a symbolic world and communicate symbolically (a cultural phenomenon). It allows sociologists to study the (oft Western, American) society as an entity in and of itself (and anthropology understands society as a product of culture, and that product allows for the ability for humanity to continue its existence. Without the ability to cohabitate amicably, humanity would not, most likely, have survived as long or prospered as much). It allows historians to understand the culture and the "ways" of the people of the past (through, often, written texts (i.e., cultural artifacts) and anthropological archaeology). It allows for economics to understand humanity through "rationality" agreement (which presupposes that humans work in a cultural landscape and have a market driven, rational reason for acting (for only anthropology can explain why one would want, allow, or act rationally in a market society)). It allows for the Political Scientist to understand the political makeup of society (which requires a cultural adherence and approval of a political system of power0, and for geographers to understand humanity (from a viewpoint that requires humans to be members of a group that are, generally, geocentric (i.e., culturally centered)), and for other social sciences to understand humanity from a point-of-view that takes for granted their humanity (e.g., psychology).

Conclusion

Essay on Anthropology: The Fundamental Social Science Assignment

In conclusion, not only does anthropology set the stage for the biological predispositions that lead to the realm of the social sciences (e.g., it sets the stage for the physiological ability to communicate, it explains the evolutionary significance for intelligence as a survival mechanism), it forms a foundation for the underpinnings of society (which allows the other social sciences to study the human experience). Anthropology, being concerned with what is human, really does make for the fundamental science to understanding society and all aspects of humanity.

Works Cited

Anthropology (n.d.) American Anthropological Association (AAA). Retrieved May 6, 2011 from http://www.aaanet.org/about/WhatisAnthropology.cfm.

Jurmain, R., Kilgore, L, & Trevathan, W. (2006). Introduction to Physical Anthropology. Belmont: Thomas.

Social Science (n.d.). In Webster's Dictionary. Retrieved May 7, 2011, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20science. [END OF PREVIEW] . . . READ MORE