History of Theory and Method in Anthropology

Regna Darnell's book, History of Theory and Method in Anthropology, critically examines the theoretical orientation of the Americanist tradition and the professionalization of anthropology in the United States. It explores the theory schools, institutions, and social networks of scholars and fieldworkers focused on ethnography of North American Indigenous peoples. Darnell's fifty-year career includes foundational writings in cultural anthropology, ethnography, linguistics, and physical anthropology. The book features prominent researchers, theorists, and fieldwork subjects, including Claude Lévi-Strauss, Franz Boas, Benjamin Lee Whorf, and George Stocking Jr. It is a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in the history of the inductive theory schools and methodologies of the Americanist tradition and its legacies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 348 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

The Americanist tradition, with a focus on Franz Boas' work, has undergone a critical reexamination by Regna Darnell, shedding light on the professionalization of anthropology as an academic discipline in the United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This comprehensive work delves into the theoretical orientations, institutions, and social networks of scholars and fieldworkers who specialized in ethnography of North American Indigenous peoples. Spanning fifty years, Darnell's contributions have left an indelible mark in cultural anthropology, ethnography, linguistics, and physical anthropology.

This rich tapestry of knowledge is brought to life through the inclusion of prominent researchers, theorists, and fieldwork subjects. Claude Lévi-Strauss, Franz Boas, Benjamin Lee Whorf, John Wesley Powell, Frederica de Laguna, Dell Hymes, George Stocking Jr., and Anthony F.C. Wallace are just a few of the luminaries who have made significant contributions to the field. Additionally, the book explores the historical context of nineteenth-century Native language classifications, ethnography, ethnohistory, social psychology, structuralism, rationalism, biologism, mentalism, race science, human nature and cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, standpoint-based epistemology, collaborative research, and applied anthropology.

History of Theory and Method in Anthropology serves as a vital resource for scholars and students seeking to delve into the history of the inductive theory schools and methodologies of the Americanist tradition. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical frameworks, institutions, and social networks that shaped the development of anthropology as a discipline. This book is an invaluable tool for those interested in exploring the legacies of this tradition and its impact on the field of anthropology.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496224163