121-409 Philosophy and Scope of Anthropology

Formerly available as 136-022 or 121-072. Students who have completed 136-022 or 121-072 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in anthropology.

This subject offers an historical overview of the principal approaches to theory, method and forms of explanation that have shaped anthropology in the 20th century. Students should become familiar with the dominant anthropological traditions in Britain, the United States and France, from functionalism through to poststructuralism, and be able critically to examine the historically changing conception of the scope and aim of anthropology and its philosophical underpinnings.

Written work totalling 5000 words.

Materials prepared by the School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies.