09 AUG 2014 by ideonexus
Did Lower Testosterone Help Civilize Humanity?
A new study appearing Aug. 1 in the journal Current Anthropology finds that human skulls changed in ways that indicate a lowering of testosterone levels at around the same time that culture was blossoming.
“The modern human behaviors of technological innovation, making art and rapid cultural exchange probably came at the same time that we developed a more cooperative temperament,” said lead author Robert Cieri, a biology graduate student at the University of Utah who began this work as a...Folksonomies: human evolution anthropology
Folksonomies: human evolution anthropology
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notes22 JUN 2013 by ideonexus
Observing Human Body-Language is Like Birdwatching
As we approach the end of the twentieth century, we are witnessing the emergence of a new kind of social scientist-the non-verbalist. Just as the birdwatcher delights in watching birds and their behaviour, so the non-verbalist delights in watching the non-verbal cues and signals of human beings. He watches them at social functions, at beaches, on television, at the office or anywhere that people interact. He is a student of behaviour who wants to learn about the actions of his fellow humans s...Folksonomies: anthropology body language
Folksonomies: anthropology body language
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notesThe science of body language is relatively young, despite the communication form going back millions of years.
02 NOV 2012 by ideonexus
Ethnology Destroys What it Studies
Ethnology brushed up against its paradoxical death in 1971, the day when the Philippine
government decided to return the few dozen Tasaday who had just been discovered in
the depths of the jungle, where they had lived for eight centuries without any contact
with the rest of the species, to their primitive state, out of the reach of colonizers,
tourists, and ethnologists. This at the suggestion of the anthropologists themselves, who
were seeing the indigenous people disintegrate immediately up... 1 notes
notesWhen the anthropologist interacts with the indigenous person, they change and corrupt them.
05 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
The Scientific Crime of Cremation
Nothing is more detestable to the physical anthropologist than... [the] wretched habit of cremating the dead. It involves not only a prodigal waste of costly fuel and excellent fertilizer, but also the complete destruction of physical historical data. On the other hand, the custom of embalming and mummification is most praiseworthy and highly to be recommended. Folksonomies: anthropology cremation
Folksonomies: anthropology cremation
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notesIt robs nature of the nutrients and the anthropologist of evidence.
23 APR 2012 by ideonexus
Egotistical Man Doesn't Study Man
In an age of egoism, it is so difficult to persuade man that of all studies, the most important is that of himself. This is because egoism, like all passions, is blind. The attention of the egoist is directed to the immediate needs of which his senses give notice, and cannot be raised to those reflective needs that reason discloses to us; his aim is satisfaction, not perfection. He considers only his individual self; his species is nothing to him. Perhaps he fears that in penetrating the myst...Folksonomies: anthropology improvement
Folksonomies: anthropology improvement
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notesBecause he his concerned only with his immediate wants, not his betterment.
18 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Objectively Viewing the Work of Anthropology
Its [the anthropological method] power to make us understand the roots from which our civilization has sprung, that it impresses us with the relative value of all forms of culture, and thus serves as a check to an exaggerated valuation of the standpoint of our own period, which we are only too liable to consider the ultimate goal of human evolution, thus depriving ourselves of the benefits to be gained from the teachings of other cultures and hindering an objective criticism of our own work. Folksonomies: objectivity anthropology
Folksonomies: objectivity anthropology
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notesRequires scientists to understand the origins of civilization in perspective of our own place in history.
18 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
The Laws of Anthropology
Anthropology has reached that point of development where the careful investigation of facts shakes our firm belief in the far-reaching theories that have been built up. The complexity of each phenomenon dawns on our minds, and makes us desirous of proceeding more cautiously. Heretofore we have seen the features common to all human thought. Now we begin to see their differences. We recognize that these are no less important than their similarities, and the value of detailed studies becomes app...Folksonomies: natural history anthropology
Folksonomies: natural history anthropology
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notesAnthropologists need a firm and accurate grasp of history before they can begin to induct laws from it.
15 SEP 2011 by ideonexus
Washoe the Chimpanzee Demonstrates Sympathy
People who should be there for her and aren't are often given the cold shoulder--her way of informing them that she's miffed at them. Washoe greeted Kat [the caretaker] in just this way when she finally returned to work with the chimps. Kat made her apologies to Washoe, then decided to tell her the truth, signing "MY BABY DIED". Washoe stared at her, then looked down. She finally peered into Kat's eyes again and carefully signed "CRY", touching her cheek and drawing her finger down the path a...
1 Story of Washoe the Chimpanzee when one of her caretakers missed work for awhile after having a miscarriage.
