ANTH 4751 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Systems Theory, Marvin Harris, Noble Savage
Document Summary
Relationships between religion and nature since the work of late 19th century anthropologists. In 1950s, several pioneering anthropologists focused research on relationship between religion and environment as interest in ecology developed. General systems theory developed in anthropology in subsequent decades. Marvin harris (1979,1994) - cultural system as infrastructure (production and reproduction), structure (domestic and political economies), and superstructure (science, religion, art) Others have also been pursuing religious aspects of human-animal interactions with a focus on hunting, fishing, and herding societies. Forests believed to be sacred by local communities. Can provide middle ground between polar extremes of materialism and mentalism. Religions may contribute different relationships between adherents and nature, producing different impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, ecological processes, and related phenomena. Need in studies of religion and environment to adopt an anthropological approach. Afford more attention to biological ecology, encompassing biodiversity, ecosystems, ecological processes, and related natural phenomena.
