ANTH 206 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Shifting Cultivation, Thermostat, General Idea
16 Apr 2016
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Ecology: study of relations b/w living organisms and their physical and biotic environment. Ecosystem: total living organisms and non-living substances within demarcated area. Look at relationships b/w them (feeding, cyclical transfer of energy, predator-pre relations, etc. ) We no longer think of things as bounded anymore, but that"s the general idea. Cybernetic systems (systems theory): closed, homeostatic systems (self- regulating; system adjusted according to signals/signs/informations from other parts of the system to maintain an equilibrium ) ranges for variables to allow perpetuation (sustainability) of the system. 2 models of looking at how people engage w/environment: Cognized model: people"s own knowledge and beliefs about environment, including supernatural (emic perspective of view, seen to be subjective and culturally bounded. How they act on their beliefs based on their perceptions) Operational model: environment described by objective science (scientific understanding of ecosystems and how species interact within them). (etic model. Outsiders" point of view, assumed to be objective)
