Sc2218 Lecture 3 (2008a)

SC2218: Anthropology and the Human Condition Lecture 3: Human Diversity ( It’s Not in Our Genes ) Eric C. Thompson Semester 2, 2007/2008

In this lecture… ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Journey of Man ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/photogalleries/journey_of_man/ Journey of MAN : Tracing the Y chromosome

“ The Form Is Fixed . . .” http://anthro.palomar.edu/tutorials/physical.htm ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],*Wells calls this “the Great Leap Forward” and “First Big Bang” in modern Human cultural evolution. Marking a qualitative difference between Homo sapiens and others; like Homo erectus . (pp.151)

“ . . . and Culture Takes Off” http://anthro.palomar.edu/tutorials/physical.htm ,[object Object],[object Object]

All Humans have the Same Capacity for CULTURE ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],* Origins and Evolution of Culture (1989; in Course Pack)

Humans are to Culture what Giraffes are to Necks Do animals have culture like people? Animals think and conceptualize… but is that really CULTURE? Do other animals, have necks? They have stubby connections between their head and body … but is that really a NECK?

“ Old fashioned concepts of race…” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],http://anthro.palomar.edu/vary/default.htm

Race: Essentialist Categories Ethiopian Malayan Mongoloid American Caucasoid Blumenbach’s Classification (1775) “ Scientific” Approach Based on “Coherence” of Traits

Trait 1: Skin Color Trait 2: ABO Bloodgroup Trait 1 varies North-South Trait 2 varies East-West

Racial Categories? 30 26 4 3 Type B Type A Type O Reflectivity of Skin? ABO Blood Type?

Conclusions about Race ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],For a more detailed contemporary view of “race” by professional anthropologists, see the 1998 “Statement on Race” of the American Anthropological Association.

“ Incoherent” Traits (Example of Biological and Cultural Traits) “ African” and “European” men wearing “Asian” batik.

Coherence of Traits: Race and Ethnicity ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Race and Ethnicity: Folk Categories / Scientific Categories ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Example 1: American use of “race” ,[object Object],[object Object]

Children have to learn how to classify people “correctly”

Example 2: Malaysian use of “race” ,[object Object],[object Object]

What is Evolution? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

“ A Certain Direction” ,[object Object],[object Object]

“ Lower, Simpler, Worse… to Higher, More Complex, Better” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Progress?

Survival of the Fittest… (Darwin Revisited)

Which of these is Best? (Which is “ FITTEST ”? ) A B C D

“ Survival of the Fittest” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Which of these is Best? (Which is “fittest”? ) A B C D

“ Fitness” is a meaningless concept without a Context

Context (e.g. environment) determines “fitness”

What is “fittest” in one context…

… May be “unfit” in another context

“ Survival of the Fittest” versus “Survival of the Minimally Adequate” ,[object Object],[object Object]

“ Gradual and Relatively Peaceful … Advance” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

So… What is Evolution? ,[object Object],[object Object]

Some Examples of Evolved Systems ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Recent Human Evolution? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Agricultural Revolution* ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],*Wells calls this the “Second Big Bang” ( The Importance of Culture, pp.150-151)

Agricultural & Surplus provide conditions for: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Complex Social Networking Mesopotamian Ziggurat: Representation of State Power

First Urban Revolution ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Mesopotamia Egypt Indus Valley + + +

Second Urban Revolution ,[object Object],[object Object]

Population Growth ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

A few final thoughts on social and cultural complexity . . . ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Sc2218 Lecture 3 (2008a)

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Sc2218 Lecture 3 (2008a)