Subfields of Anthropology, Essay Example

Park described the major subfields of Anthropology being: Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, Archaeology (Fig 1 refers). (Park, M.L. 2010).  These in turn had appropriate subfields identified with them which are diverse in nature.  The link that bonds these together is that of the ‘human’.  Human biology examines concepts as genetics, evolution and biology of the human species.  Cultural anthropology examines the traits and behavioural conditions of humans. In addition how cultural aspects differ between human societies.  Language is the common bond that ies humans together and the ability to communicate with one another.  English has become the most widely adopted universal language on the planet.  Archeology tells the history of humans through artefacts and remains of our culture.

Figure 1 : Components of Anthropology, according to Park, Introducing Anthropology: An integrated approach.

The other holistic bonding concept of the strands of anthropology relates to that of ‘human universalism’ ; regardless of the differences we are all human beings that make up the human race.  The biology of humans does not function or exist in isolation but forms party of a human gene pool. (O’Neil, D. 2012).  Another integrating factor is that of cultural attributes of human beings being inter-related.  Thus to fully understand a culture you equally need to understand how it relates to other entities.  One additional unifying factor that could be introduced to the model in Fig 1 is that of mans cognitive ability and how human beings have grown in brain power.  Man has become intellectually more adept than any other of the species on this planet, this despite a relatively frail body composition.  The human being has evolved to become the dominant and most widely spread creature on the planet.

References

O’Neil, D. (2012, 9 25). Overview of Anthropology. Retrieved from http://anthro.palomar.edu/intro/overview.htm

Park, M. A. (2010). Introducing Anthropology: An integrated approach. In M. A. Park, Introducing Anthropology: An integrated approach (p. 12). New York: McGraw Hill.