Comparative Functionalism: An Essay in Anthropological Theory

Comparative Functionalism challenges anthropologys reliance on cultural relativism and institutional analysis, advocating for a shift toward understanding universal social functions as responses to human needs. It emphasizes the interplay between biological, environmental, and cultural factors and critiques anthropological complacency in addressing larger questions about human nature and society. The author proposes a comparative approach that seeks patterns of consistency beneath diverse cultural expressions, aiming to synthesize insights from varied human experiences into a cohesive model of social functions. This shift is vital for anthropology to fulfill its broader responsibility to the behavioral sciences and integrate insights from psychology, sociology, and anthropology to achieve a more holistic understanding of man in society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 164 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Comparative Functionalism: An Essay in Anthropological Theory offers a bold reexamination of anthropologys theoretical foundation, challenging the discipline's overreliance on cultural relativism and institutional analysis. The essay advocates for a comparative approach that seeks patterns of consistency beneath diverse cultural expressions, aiming to synthesize insights from varied human experiences into a cohesive model of social functions. It emphasizes the interplay between biological, environmental, and cultural factors, critiquing anthropological complacency in addressing larger questions about human nature and society. The author calls for an approach that considers the broader context of human behavior, integrating insights from psychology, sociology, and anthropology to achieve a more holistic understanding of man in society. With examples drawn from anthropological traditions and critiques of past methodologies, the essay seeks to provoke discourse and reorient the field toward its ultimate goal: a scientific comprehension of human social behavior and its diverse manifestations. Comparative Functionalism is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, commemorating the University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the best in scholarly research.

Weight: 318g
Dimension: 210 x 140 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520364509