ASB 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Daniel K. Ludwig, Cultural Anthropology, Ontogeny

• School: ASU
• Department: Anthropology (Social and Behavioral)
• Course: ASB 101
• Professor: Kevin Langergraber

Document Summary

Anthropology is a diverse study , inquiry, cultural expression and advocacy. Focus on inquiry - the science of human variation. Goals- accurate description of the range of variation, explanation of variation through testing. Humans vary in physical form (morphology), physiological processes, behaviors and beliefs. Morphology, physiology behavior and behavior and their underlying genes all evolve by natural selection. Culture evolves bc of bias in social learning patterns (unique to humans) Anthropology must integrate biological and cultural influences to explain human behavioral variation. Commonality- the flip side of variation is universality. The study of variation implies the study of universals. Eating can be a huge cultural event that changes in society. Anthropology is useful bc since ww2, cheap air travel, cell phone service, internet, international media and entertainment, migration. Music in the 1970s even reached remote areas. General understanding of human history, and ability to engage in informed discourse and analyses relevant to your life.