Anthropology a Science? Statement Deepens a Rift

New York Times ^ | December 9, 2010 | Nicholas Wade

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Anthropologists have been thrown into turmoil about the nature and future of their profession after a decision by the American Anthropological Association at its recent annual meeting to strip the word “science” from a statement of its long-range plan.

The decision has reopened a long-simmering tension between researchers in science-based anthropological disciplines — including archaeologists, physical anthropologists and some cultural anthropologists — and members of the profession who study race, ethnicity and gender and see themselves as advocates for native peoples or human rights.

[snip]

Dr. Peregrine, who is at Lawrence University in Wisconsin, said in an interview that the dropping of the references to science “just blows the top off” the tensions between the two factions. “Even if the board goes back to the old wording, the cat’s out of the bag and is running around clawing up the furniture,” he said.

He attributed what he viewed as an attack on science to two influences within anthropology. One is that of so-called critical anthropologists, who see anthropology as an arm of colonialism and therefore something that should be done away with. The other is the postmodernist critique of the authority of science. “Much of this is like creationism in that it is based on the rejection of rational argument and thought,” he said.

Dr. Dominguez denied that critical anthropologists or postmodernist thinking had influenced the new statement. She said in an e-mail that she was aware that science-oriented anthropologists had from time to time expressed worry about and disapproval of their nonscientific colleagues. “Marginalization is never a welcome experience,” she said.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This article reminded of a comment I heard years ago. It was said by a black woman during a TV group discussion, the genesis of which I don't recall.

She said: It's called anthropology when they show pictures of naked black people and pornography when they show pictures of naked white people.

[WilliamHouston]

No real surprise here.

“Anthropology” hasn’t been a science in decades. It is a “science” on the same level as “sociology.”

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Seems psychiatry is having a shake-up too!

The End of Narcissistic Personality Disorder? Say it ain't so! "Could the NPI and DSM V debate reflect an important ethical conflict?"

Then of course there is the human caused global climate change........"science" meltdown.

As climate-change talks continue, lack of consensus spurs smaller-scale actions "CANCUN, MEXICO - In response to growing frustration that the U.N. climate negotiations are not producing real-world results, individual nations, states and business are cobbling together patchwork solutions to preserve forests, produce clean energy and scrub pollution from the air."

[A_perfect_lady]

I spent three years in a doctoral program in anthropology. Trust me; it’s NOT a science. No where near.

[A_perfect_lady]

I spent three years in a doctoral program in anthropology. Trust me; it’s NOT a science. No where near.

[PapaBear3625]

I spent three years in a doctoral program in anthropology. Trust me; it’s NOT a science. No where near.

In a politically-correct world, it cannot be PERMITTED to be a science, because real science and real research would generate too many politically-incorrect findings.

[LexRex in TN]

Anything that can’t be measured or predicted by mathematics is not science—it is conjecture and hypothesis.

[paudio]

Were you in cultural or other (such as physical)? I took a class from an archeologists who said, "Those cultural people have more similarities with the humanity faculties (philosophy, literature, and so on) than with me.

[PapaBear3625]

Anything that can’t be measured or predicted by mathematics is not science—it is conjecture and hypothesis.

Which is why anthropology cannot become a science. Imagine an actual science-based anthropologist conducting research into the genetic and ethnic basis of IQ. There have been a few, and they've been tarred and feathered in academia.

[PapaBear3625]

Were you in cultural or other (such as physical)? I took a class from an archeologists who said, "Those cultural people have more similarities with the humanity faculties (philosophy, literature, and so on) than with me.

Physical anthropology would be better off being absorbed into the biology and medical fields, and leave cultural anthro in the humanities depts.

[A_perfect_lady]

Yes, I was in linguistics, but I had to take classes in all four branches: arch, bio, cultural, linguistic. It’s just a hodge-podge.

[paudio]

Ah yeah... No doubt that linguistic anthropology IS part of what I call ‘mumbo-jumbo’... :-)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

...it is conjecture and hypothesis

Like the single minded, never ending "scientific" "search for life" holy grail quest that holds NASA hostage.

If there is other life in the universe we will find it but the "search" for it has taken on religious fever, spread from the Mars science community into most of NASA (sort of a religion to debunk religion, if you will).

[paudio]

Anything that can’t be measured or predicted by mathematics is not science—it is conjecture and hypothesis.

Some economic models are based on pure mathematical model, with assumptions that only hold for the model but not necessarily in reality, and use variables that practically difficult (if not impossible) to measure (with validity) so they would never been tested against any data. Sometimes I doubt whether they are (social) science.

[JimSEA]

You can not be an “advocate” and a scientist period. Absurd to think otherwise. At last some are recognizing this. Best to stop the pretence. Let the scientists separate themselves from the societal manipulators.

[mdmathis6]

“I spent three years in a doctoral program in anthropology”

And you survived it? Free Republic is a good source for political rehab!

[sayuncledave]

I thought that the crack about creationism was the telling thing here. Comparing it to a rejection of rational thought is not aligned with the Scientific Method, wherein one measures a hypothesis against evidence to draw conclusions. Thirty-odd years ago, I was an Anthro student, spent much time in our anthropology lab. Nice people, generally, as far as hanging out went, but science? More political than anything else. Aside, perhaps, from politically correct.

[Southern Partisan]

My 1978 Anthropology degree is a BA.

[Graybeard58]

“Anthropology” hasn’t been a science in decades. It is a “science” on the same level as “sociology.”

As usual, all the good comments are taken by the time I get here.

[Graybeard58]

She said: It's called anthropology when they show pictures of naked black people and pornography when they show pictures of naked white people.

Yep, I can't imagine 12-15 year old white girls being shown running around topless.

It's kiddie porn, no matter the color.