Dollo’s Rule

In this era, anthropology is considered a huge and essential field of study and learning. It is important for society as it deals with various and different types of issues and complications in the social environment. Anthropology inspects some issues also considered in economics as well as political science.

However, anthropologists concentrate on how characteristics of economics and politics are linked with other aspects of culture, like essential rituals of the culture. Moreover, anthropologists who focus on and master the learning of systems of exchange in small-level societies may see themselves as economic anthropologists.

Relation of Sociology with Anthropology

Just like sociology, anthropology is also a kind of general science. The term anthropology is derived from the Greek words “Anthropos” and “Logos,” meaning “man” and “study,” respectively; therefore, it simply means ‘study of man or human being’. Anthropology is not just concerned with an individual, but it deals with groups of people, including their actions, beliefs, and doings.

Anthropology has contributed and added a lot to the study of people. Moreover, it has its roots in rich anthropological knowledge and learning, which makes it much more effective and useful at the same time. It is huge and greater than any other social science as well as it pursues the study of people both as a part of human society and the animal kingdom.

It also covers the area of study that talks about the cultural developments and advancements of the people. It also has two major divisions that are as follows:

· Organic or Physical Anthropology

· Socio-Cultural Anthropology

History of Social Anthropology

The historians are extremely curious about figuring out what happened in the past and what was the reason or cause behind it. Moreover, they are more interested in the sequential events that occurred in the past rather than the general events.

However, they have fewer concerns in both aspects as compared to the social anthropologists. Furthermore, social anthropologists are very curious and interested in the current scenario and present conditions of the culture of the community or society that they are specifically studying with dissimilar disciplines.

Social anthropology is closely connected with history in a way that says; an anthropologist can easily fail in figuring out how it came to be as it is while trying to complete the understanding of the present situations of the community he is focusing on for the study of society.

Moreover, there might also occur some difficulties like some of the societies studied by the social anthropologists don’t have a history in documented or verifiable accounts from the past.

In such types of societies, it is thought that the present is not very different from the past by judging the people in the present who have obtained different statuses that are brought to the society in the present.

Applications of Anthropology

· It is used in several contemporary settings due to its concentration on organisation, behaviour, as well as meaning.

· Big brands and MNCs like Google take the help of anthropologists to understand better how people treat and interact with the technology provided to them.

· Various approaches of anthropology are useful in the healthcare and medical sectors for the rebuilding and evolving of the patient experience.

Similarities in Anthropology & Sociology

· According to Frazer, social anthropology is the branch of sociology that is concerned with primitive societies.

· Radcliffe Brown said that anthropology is comparative sociology. Moreover, by using the term ‘comparative,’ he defines that it is a science that uses the generalising methods and procedures from the natural sciences to the social world where people live and everything that comes under a civilization as well as culture.

· Anthropology was being considered as a holistic learning of humankind and their social life. At the same time, “Auguste Comte” stated that sociology would be the overarching field of study focusing on humans and their societal aspects.

· Anthropology, as well as sociology, follow and consider the science model, combining the generalisation and description at the same time.

Anthropology & Humanities

Science and humanities come and serve together when it comes to anthropology. However, they also have their exclusive approaches. Anthropology’s humanistic side is obvious in its concern with the languages, achievements in arts and literature, and values of different cultures. Moreover, anthropology is connected and related to humanistic disciplines in those aspects.

For instance, literature, fine arts, history, etc. However, when we talk about the scientific manner, anthropology is not similar to these disciplines in the way of the learning process or studying. The anthropologists always try their best to observe different cultures properly by getting involved with them and their communities.

Conclusion

This anthropology relationship with social sciences study material concludes that social anthropology has its roots connected to various sciences, such as social science, political science, history, etc., at the same time. Therefore, anthropology deals with a variety of complications as well as issues in the social world, and it is an important study area for enhancing knowledge about sociology as well.