Unit 1: Intro to Physical Anthropology & evolution foundation

Transcription

1 Unit 1: Intro to Physical Anthropology & evolution foundation 1

2 Summary 1. Introductions 2. Redtape 3. Question: What things make us so unique? 4. Outline of the course 2

3 Course website -Click on the link to this class Very important for this class 3

4 Course website and personal Prof Creason Transferred from LBCC BA: UCLA MA: CSUN -focus: paleopathology, and archaeology of war 4

5 Course website and personal Prof Creason Transferred from LBCC BA: UCLA MA: CSUN -focus: paleoanthropology, paleopathology, and the archaeology of war Outside anthropology -punk and metal music -illustration -Philosophy of Religion and Philosophy of Science -argumentation and debate 5

6 Introduction: What is anthropology? Instructions: -Form into groups of 3-4 -Designate a scribe Brainstorm: -Ask: What traits are uniquely human? -List answers on the scratch paper (just one piece of paper) 6

7 Introduction: What is anthropology? Instructions: -Form into groups of 3-4 -Designate a scribe Brainstorm: -Ask: What traits are uniquely human? -List answers on the scratch paper (just one piece of paper) Now: -Exchange s -Sometime before class your new BFF to make sure they can access the course website 7

8 Introduction: What is anthropology? 1. Anthropology is the study of humankind 2. Split into four subfields First: Cultural anthropology -observes human societies past and present -patterns of behavior and belief 8

9 Introduction: What is anthropology? 1. Anthropology is the study of humankind 2. Split into four subfields First: Cultural anthropology -observes human societies past and present -patterns of behavior and belief -Use ethnographies - the study of human societies Ask: What do we mean by culture? 9

10 Introduction: What is anthropology? 1. Anthropology is the study of humankind 2. Split into four subfields First: Cultural anthropology -observes human societies past and present -patterns of behavior and belief -Use ethnographies - the study of human societies Ask: What do we mean by culture? Culture: the behavioral aspects of humans which we learn and transmit non-genetically across generations 10

11 Introduction: What is anthropology? 1. Anthropology is the study of humankind 2. Split into four subfields Second: Archaeology -Observes/excavates artifacts, ie, the material remains of past cultures 11

12 Introduction: What is anthropology? 1. Anthropology is the study of humankind 2. Split into four subfields Third: Linguistic Anthropology -Studies the origins, structure, and function of languages -Humans uniquely rely on language 12

13 Introduction: What is anthropology? Anthropology has four subfields: Cultural Anthro; Archaeology; Linguistic Anthro; and Physical Anthropology Fourth: Physical Anthropology -Studies human biology in an evolutionary framework Biocultural evolution - Emphasize the interaction between biology and culture 13

14 Introduction: What is Physical Anthropology? Physical Anthropology has its own subfields -Paleoanthropology -Primatology -Genetics -Osteology Forensic anthropology - applying anthro to legal issues 14

15 Introduction: What is Physical Anthropology? Physical Anthropology has its own subfields -Paleoanthropology -Primatology -Genetics -Osteology Forensic anthropology - applying anthro to legal issues 15

16 Physical Anthropology subfields Evolution - change in the genetic makeup of a population over generations -Paleoanthropology -Primatology -Genetics -Osteology Forensic anthropology - applying anthro to legal issues 16

17 Physical Anthropology subfields -Paleoanthropology - the study of human behavior and morphology found in the fossil record -Primatology - the study of nonhuman primate behavior and biology -Genetics - the study of gene structure and action -Osteology - studies the anatomical structures and functions of the human skeleton Forensic anthropology - applying anthro to legal issues 17

18 Physical Anthropology is a scientific field Hypothesis - tentative explanation of our observations Scientific method: OHAT Observation Hypothesis Analysis Theory 18

19 Physical Anthropology is a scientific field Hypothesis - tentative explanation of our observations Scientific method: OHAT Observation Hypothesis Analysis Theory Analysis - collect more data, make more observations, perform experiments testing whether the hypothesis is supported by the evidence these methods generate -repeatedly, over and over again 19

20 Physical Anthropology is a scientific field Observation Hypothesis Analysis Theory Analysis - collect more data, make more observations, perform experiments testing whether the hypothesis is supported by the evidence these methods generate Confirmation - evidence for a hypothesis means there should be evidence against a hypothesis (disconfirmation). Theory - a robust explanation of our observations/facts/evidence/the data BEST EXPLANATIONS BECOME THEORIES IF THEY'RE DISCONFIRMABLE 20

21 The Anthropological Perspective -Understand humans with a broad point of view (across space and through time). Extend knowledge to include many different cultures (across space) -avoid ethnocentrism (viewing other cultures as inferior to one's own culture) Extend knowledge to include different cultures in the past (through time) 21