Can an anthropologist remain detached from acts of cruelty or harm to another, especially those which arise from introduced values by an outside culture?
posted by:
|
Grand Rapids
|
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Sat, July 29, 2006 - 12:51 AMi don't think i could. but of course an anthropologist gets attached regardless. why would one want to study a people and a place if one were not attached to it? -
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Sat, July 29, 2006 - 5:43 AMThe general rule of scientific study is to remain detached as much as possible so the group studied does not change as a result of the influence of the observer. -
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Sat, July 29, 2006 - 12:03 PMwhat if that change is the phenomena you are studying? -
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Sat, July 29, 2006 - 12:19 PMThe change that is brought about by the observer is an artificial one and cannot be properly rendered as scientifically valid. -
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Sat, July 29, 2006 - 9:30 PMhow does the concept "artificial" distinguish between the change the observer brings about and the general change that the globalized world is going through? how do you know which is which? besides, i thought the verdict was that cultural anthropology in general isn't particularly scientifically valid. -
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Sun, July 30, 2006 - 5:02 AMYou may be right in that the study of anthropology is among those studies closer to art than science, however, we should still strive to maintain as much of the scientific method as possible. As to the influence of outside factors, it should be observed and noted but the controllable variable is the observer.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Sat, July 29, 2006 - 5:43 AMThe study of anthropology doesn't do anything on it's own.
But, the discourse of extreme culture relativism marks the student as being very open-minded.
Everyone has their own culture, and as anyone wants their own culture respected, one should respect other's cultures aswell.
It's the old humanism vs freedom to your own culture debate.
Should you intervene when a group of people are being self-destructive, or should you respect their way of living.
For me it's obvious, culture is more important.
I mean, where would you draw the line.
First it's stopping them from killing themselves, then it's making propaganda for Dr.Phil's new book in order to make them lose weight.
We don't want all cultures to look the same, that would be pointless, we want diversity.
Diversity is healthy for mankind as a race.
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Tue, August 8, 2006 - 11:16 PMPerhaps theoretically, but I would imagine that in practice anthropologists _do_ often intervene. I mean, he's studying humans -- heck, even _ethologists_ have sometimes intervened in the internal affairs of _chimpanzee_ bands out of sympathy with the subjects of their study!
- Jordan -
-
Re: Does the study of anthropology remove the student from active involvement against acts of harm to others?
Wed, August 9, 2006 - 5:39 AMIt depends, are you involved in thier world, or are you involving them in yours.
Observing is only the first step, to truly understand the culture you have to be involved. Plus It's a lot more fun ! from another view point ; It is ALWAYS acceptable to prevent harm to others. Studing anything satisfies your courosity, bringing peace satisfies the soul.
-
