The challenges of anthropology
by Thomas Hylland Eriksen
International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education (IJPEE), Vol. 1, No. 3, 2010

Abstract: Although anthropology is often associated with studies of small-scale societies, traditional cultures or arcane customs, this article argues that anthropology is first and foremost a way of thinking that can be applied to any aspect of human life. As such, it is complementary to and a useful supplement to other human sciences such as psychology and economics. Anthropology distinguishes itself by trying to account for human diversity, studied through long-term fieldwork and analysed via comparative methods. By virtue of its ethnographic method, anthropology produces unique insights into the informal dimension of social and cultural life, emphasising the contrasts between what people say and what they do, and between the formal structure of society and what actually happens. In the endeavour to understand the human condition, anthropology is one of several indispensable tools.

Online publication date: Tue, 17-Aug-2010

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education (IJPEE):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com