The Holistic Approach in Anthropology - Essay Example

The holistic approach in anthropology A holistic approach refers to an approach that is all enveloping. A field of study can be said to be holistic when it covers all the parts or sections that are required of it as far as the breadth of the subject matter in any study is concerned. The holistic approach in this case will explore the farthest limits of the matter to come up with a result that is larger in breadth and meets all the expectations of the final reader (Washburn). Anthropology is said to be one of the disciplines that have a holistic approach in addressing its content matter. Right from its definition, anthropology describes the study of all spheres of humankind. Anthropology studies the overall human society by examining the broad vista of the human life right from the origin of mankind to the modern forms of life taking into consideration various salient features such as the variations in cultural disposition in different societies around the world as well as the entire man’s social life. In addressing the complex human life, anthropology explores the corners of the entire block by dividing the human society into four main blocks which include: the human politics, the socioeconomic configuration of the human society, the religious perspectives in the diverse human life and the aspect of the general ideology in man. This gives a holistic perspective in elaborating the entire panorama in understanding man in his changing interrelationships with each other as well as with the surrounding environment. Besides, anthropology studies the contemporary society by paying a keen visit to the man’s past or history and evolutionary processes further giving it a holistic approach in relating man’s past with the present in order to come up with an all round description of the human society giving it a better understanding in a chronological manner (Washburn). In dealing with the human society, anthropology views the society in two main perspectives: man’s biological environments as well as his cultural environments. The biological anthropology deals with the study of human origins from a biological point of view while the cultural anthropology studies man’s cultural backgrounds usually along a historical path. Biological anthropology as a sub branch of anthropology, deals with the study of the corporeal growth in human genus hence playing a very crucial role in the learning of human beginnings as well as in the identification and classification of human fossils to reconstruct the theory of man’s evolution from a scientific point of view. It borrows more from the human body capacity (anthropometrics), human genetics as well as from human osteology. Besides, anthropology helps in categorizing man and other primates based on the study of their brain evolution and development over time in order to come up with a chronological account in reconstructing the changes in human society (Marks). Moreover, biomedical anthropology as a sub branch of anthropology has also contributed immensely in the anthropological exploration of the biological world in relation to the medical field. Even though this is mainly well developed in the United States where biomedical anthropology holds a higher rank, the sub discipline adequately helps in relating medicine and anthropology by incorporating ideas and knowledge from the biological and medical anthropology sub-disciplines. Thus, it can be strongly argued that biomedical anthropology has contributed in improving medical and biomedical sciences through the holistic integration of the cross- cultural, behavioural and epidemiological points of view on health related matters. As an academic discipline therefore, biomedical anthropology has been closely related to human biology. Biology can also be closely linked to the typological studies in anthropology. Typology in anthropology deals with the categorization of the human kind based on the physical traits possessed by each person. These include those traits that can be readily observed from a distance such as the shape of the head of a person, one’s skin colour appearances, a person’s hair type and form, the body structure or buildup and stature. Using this approach, Carleton classified the human race into four main categories namely, the Negroids, the Caucasoid race, the Mongolian race (Mongoloids), the Australoids or the Australian race and the Capoids race (Washburn). In short, typological anthropology assumed that all humans on the surface of the earth could be assigned a race by looking at the similarity in physical traits that each of them posses thus conclusively distinguishing them from other humans. However, the above anthropological approach has been criticised by various scholars who argue that morphological trait variations are brought about because of some simple variations in certain regions, as well as the effects of the climatic selective and mere similarity of physical traits cannot be used as a basis for human classification. In addition to all these, anthropology further links to biology in the study of sematopology, which deals with the classification of humankind, based on their sematotypes generally referred to as constitutional types. This approach always produces a classification system that enables one to determine the susceptibility of a person from a given race to certain physical or psychological disease. The sematotypes in a person also determines a person’s personality according to Sheldon’s constitutional theory of personality. Wood therefore concludes that Anthropological studies can be very handy in racial mapping in order for one to come up with a map display of the various races in the world based on his or her typological findings (Wood). Cultural anthropology on the other hand relates cultural studies with anthropology and is concerned more with the study of cultural variations in human beings. Anthropologists always achieve this by collecting data on the effects of the worldwide economic as well as political practices on the local cultural variations usually done through carrying out participant observations, conducting interviews, as well as carry out surveys during field-work. The major areas where anthropology merges with culture is in ethnographical studies where the life characteristics of people in different parts of the world are studied and analysed especially in relation to the speculations on human beliefs and practices. Anthropologists such as Grafton E Smith have argued that cultural traits are learned and shared among different groups with each learning new traits from the others. On the other hand, other Anthropologists hold the idea that cultural traits must have had a common origin from where the traits diffused to different worlds hence coming up with the different cultural groups that we have today around the globe (Marks). In this way anthropological studies help in reconstructing the cultural backgrounds of different people in the world. Some of these can be interlinked at their convergence points such as similarities in the languages spoken among different groups. Some scholars also argue that anthropological studies are very pertinent and cannot be ignored when studying the origin of different races and their wander across the globe and their consequent settlement in their respective places in the present times. This is usually done by tracing the historical artifacts and relating them with the current modified likes among different societies in the world. This has enabled the people to trace the original homelands of various groups of peoples hence creating the link between different or presently separated groups who might have originated from a common place in the historical times. Anthropology holds a very important place in today’s world that cannot just be ignored. Due to the fact that the whole world is composed of many cultural groups which coexist together, anthropology helps us in understanding the cultural backgrounds of various people thus changing our perspective on how we view the world and the people that live within it. By realizing that not everyone bears the same cultural traits such as experiences, language among other cultural variables, one is equipped with the understanding of how conflicts may arise while dealing with different groups of people. Marks suggest that this can be achieved by digging deeper into the cultural characteristics of the people one is dealing with through ethnographical studies, a subsection in the study of anthropology (Marks). Keen and observant anthropologists can therefore make very good human resource managers as they have a clear and well-placed understanding of the cultural diversity of the people they are dealing with based on their races, gender, ages and educational backgrounds. However, in an attempt to study the cultural variations, it is unethical for the anthropologists to influence the people’s ways of life when they have actually not asked for any assistance. People are therefore only required to study the societal variations in a static manner without having any influence on them. Due to this, cultural influence has been a common phenomenon across the globe of late posing a major challenge in interfering with the cultural disposition among various communities. In conclusion, it can be asserted that anthropological studies have a very important place in societal studies in the current world and need to be improved a great deal. Anthropology further elevates our understanding of the cultural differences hence improving international relations and associations. However, the importance of Anthropology in studying the cross-cultural variations and cultural diversity should be handled with caution so as not to use the information gathered from cultural diversity to control or manipulate people’s lives. Works cited Marks, J." Human Biodiversity: Genes, race and history." Ne, York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1995.Print Washburn, S. L. "Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences." The new Physical Anthropology 10th September 1951: 298-304. Wood, Denis. "The power of Maps." New York: The Guilford Press, 1992.Print RUBRIC FOR GRADING OF RESEARCH PAPER Criteria Outstanding 10pts. Good 8 pts. Fair 6 pts. Poor 4 pts. Explanation of why anthropology is considered to be holistic in its approach Clear and thorough explanation of why anthropology is considered to be holistic in its approach Good explanation of why anthropology is considered a holistic approach with minimal errors Explanation of why anthropology is considered a holistic approach is fair, but has some errors in interpretations and/or in need of additional information Explanation of why anthropology is considered a holistic approach is poor, frequent errors and/or inadequate information Presentation of the biological approach to anthropology Clear and through presentations of the biological approach to anthropology Good presentation of the biological approach to anthropology with minimal errors Presentation of the biological approach to anthropology is fair, but has some errors and/or is in need of additional information Presentation of biological approach to anthropology is poor, frequent errors and/or inadequate information Presentation of the cultural/social approach to anthropology Clear and through presentation of the cultural/social approach to anthropology Good presentation of the cultural/social approach to anthropology with minimal errors Presentation of the cultural/social approach to anthropology is fair, but has some errors and/or is in need of additional information Presentation of the cultural/social approach to anthropology is poor, frequent errors and/or inadequate information. Students will present their viewpoint as to the value of anthropology in today’ society Clear and through presentations that is organized and support by facts and research within the discussion Good presentation which includes some facts/research as part of the discussion Fair presentation that could benefit from more information, facts, and/or research Poor presentation that is significantly lacking in content Students will present their response to the debate as to whether it is ethical to attempt to influence people’s lives when they have not asked for assistance. Clear and through argument that is organized and supported by fact and research within the discussion Good argument which includes some facts/research within the discussion Fair argument that could benefit from the inclusion of information, facts, and/or research Poor argument that is significantly lacking in content Missing of omitted items = 0 Total points /50 Instructor comments: Read More