What is the Meaning & Definition of anthropology
Anthropology is the science devoted to the study of humans in a holistic manner. The term is of Greek origin and derives from anthropos ('man' or 'human') and logos ("knowledge"). Anthropology is an inclusive science that studies human society and culture to which it belongs, while combining approaches of natural, social and human sciences. In other words, this science studies the origin and the development of human variability and social patterns of behaviour across time and space.
In 1749, Georges-Louis Leclerc was the first specialist to consider anthropology an independent discipline. Its development was based on two postures: as an analysis of the physical diversity of the human species (comparative anatomy) and as a result of the comparative project of the description of the diversity of peoples.
Towards the end of the second world war, most of the powers had already considered the professionalization of anthropology. In general, it was a positivist ethnography, which sought to strengthen the discourse on national identity.
At the present time, anthropology can be divided into four main sub-disciplines: Biological Anthropology (or physical anthropology), which looks at the diversity of the human body in the past and in the present; Social Anthropology (also called cultural anthropology or Ethnology), which analyses human behaviour, culture and structures of social relations; Archaeology, which is responsible for humanity prétérite and allows to know the life of people exterminated; and the linguistic Anthropology (or anthropological linguistics), devoted to the study of human languages.
In 1749, Georges-Louis Leclerc was the first specialist to consider anthropology an independent discipline. Its development was based on two postures: as an analysis of the physical diversity of the human species (comparative anatomy) and as a result of the comparative project of the description of the diversity of peoples.
Towards the end of the second world war, most of the powers had already considered the professionalization of anthropology. In general, it was a positivist ethnography, which sought to strengthen the discourse on national identity.
At the present time, anthropology can be divided into four main sub-disciplines: Biological Anthropology (or physical anthropology), which looks at the diversity of the human body in the past and in the present; Social Anthropology (also called cultural anthropology or Ethnology), which analyses human behaviour, culture and structures of social relations; Archaeology, which is responsible for humanity prétérite and allows to know the life of people exterminated; and the linguistic Anthropology (or anthropological linguistics), devoted to the study of human languages.