ANT 252 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Environmental Anthropology, Determinism, Human Events
Document Summary
7. 1 environmental anthropology: relating to the natural. The field that studies how different societies understand, interact with, and make changes to the natural world. Western thinking inherently divide humans from nature. Western thought does tend to emphasize detachment, if not opposition, between humans and nature. Can be seen in the metaphor of natural resources - we see nature as an object for humans to possess, control, exploit and manage. The greeks created the great chain of being. Proposed that all living beings exist in hierarchical order with humans (thought to be closest to god) at the top. Some western philosophical traditions have emphasized a stark separation between humans and nature. Views nature as an independent force outside humans. Foraging cultures tend to emphasize reciprocity and communication between animals, humans and plants. Nature is seen as giving and nurturing, not something to be dominated. If we take care of the forest, the forest will take care of us .
