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Culture Documents
Lecture Topic
What is a theory?
Cultural Evolutionism
According to this theory, all cultures undergo the same development stages in
the same order. To develop a better understanding of these various development
stages it is important to briefly review these various stages and their sub stages.
Savagery, barbarism and civilization were three classifications that classical
anthropologists used to divide culture.
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Virtual University of Pakistan
However in 1877 Lewis Henry Morgan wrote a book titled Ancient Society, in it
the three stages of cultural anthropology were further classified into 7 stages,
which are as follows:
Diffusionism
The theory highlighted the need to consider interaction between cultures but
overemphasized the essentially valid idea of diffusion.
Historicism
Any culture is partially composed of traits diffused from other cultures but this
does not explain the existing complexity of different cultures. Collection of
ethnographic facts must precede development of cultural theories (inductive
approach).
Direct fieldwork is considered essential, which has provided the approach a solid
methodological base emphasizing the need for empirical evidence . Each culture
is, to some degree, unique. So ethnographers should try to get the view of those
being studies, not only rely on their own views
Psychological Anthropology
Functionalism
Society was thought to be like a biological organism with all of the parts
interconnected. The theory argued that change in one part of the system brings a
change in another part of the system as well. Existing institutional structures of
any society are thought to perform indispensable functions, without which the
society could not continue.
Neo-Evolutionism
Useful Terms
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Theory: a general statement about how two or more facts are related to one
another.
Savagery: the first amongst the three basic stages (savagery, barbarism and
civilization) of cultural evolution.
Barbarism: the middle of the three basic stages of the 19th century theory
developed by Lewis Morgan that all cultures evolve from simple to complex
systems.
Suggested Readings
Internet Resources
Anthropological Theories
http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/436/anthros.htm
Use the hyperlinks on the above website to read up on the following theories for
todays lecture:
Social Evolutionism
Diffusionism and Acculturation
Historicism
Functionalism
American Materialism
Cultural Materialism
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Virtual University of Pakistan