Anthropology

Anthropology is the study, analysis, and description of humanity’s past and present. Questions about
the past include prehistoric origins and human evolution. The study of contemporary humanity
focuses on biological and cultural diversity, including language.

In other words Anthropology, “the science of humanity,” which studies human beings in aspects
ranging from the biology and evolutionary history of Homo sapiens to the features of society and
culture that decisively distinguish humans from other animal species.

Compared to other disciplines that address humanity such as history, sociology, or psychology,
anthropology is broader in two ways. In terms of humanity’s past, anthropology considers a greater
depth of time.

In terms of contemporary humans, anthropology covers a wider diversity of topics than other
disciplines, from molecular DNA to cognitive development and religious beliefs.

Some anthropologists spend years in harsh physical conditions searching for fossils of early human
ancestors. Others live among and study firsthand how people in Silicon Valley, California, for
example, work, organize family life, and adapt to a situation permeated by modern technology.

Anthropologists may conduct analyses in a laboratory studying how tooth enamel reveals an
individual’s diet, or they may work in a museum, examining designs on prehistoric pottery. Yet other
anthropologists observe chimpanzees in the wild.

Research methods in anthropology range from scientific to humanistic. They formulate a hypothesis,
or research question, and then make observations to see if the hypothesis is correct. This approach
generates both quantitative (numeric) data and qualitative (descriptive) data.

In the humanistic approach, anthropologists proceed inductively, pursuing a subjective method of

understanding humanity through the study of people’s art, music, poetry, language, and other forms
of symbolic expression.

Nature of Anthropology

The nature of anthropology can be view from its historical perspective because is a global discipline
involving humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

Its roots go back to the intellectual Enlightenment of the 18th and early 19th centuries in Europe and
North America. As European nations developed colonies in distant parts of the world and Americans
expanded west and south into the territories of Indians, it became apparent to them that humanity
was extremely varied.

Anthropology began, in part, as an attempt by members of scientific societies to objectively record

and comprehend this variation. Curiosity about strange people and customs in far off parts of the
world is what primarily motivated these early amateur anthropologists.

By profession, they most often were naturalists, medical doctors, Christian clerics, or educated
explorers. They asked such fundamental questions as whether or not the differences between
human cultures are the result of genetic inheritance and if there is a relationship between the size of
a human brain and intelligence.
It was late 19th century that anthropology finally became a separate academic discipline in American
and Western European universities.

In North America anthropology is defined as a discipline comprising four fields that focus on
separate but interrelated subjects. The subjects are archaeology, biological anthropology (or
physical anthropology), linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology (or social anthropology).

Some North American anthropologists argue that a fifth field, applied anthropology, should be
added. Applied anthropology, also called practicing or practical anthropology, is the use of
anthropological knowledge to prevent or solve problems, or to shape and achieve policy goals.

In North America, the four-field approach is maintained to a large extent in the departmental
organization and degree requirements at larger colleges and universities, and in professional
associations such as the American Anthropological Association (AAA) and the Canadian Sociology
and Anthropology Association (CSAA). Some notable splits in departments occurred in the late
twentieth century.

Goals of Anthropology:

Firstly, one of the main goals of an anthropologist is to understand the fossil record of early humans
and their ancestors as well as the archaeological record of more recent prehistoric societies.

Secondly, to understand how we adapt to different environmental conditions and how we vary as a
species.

Thirdly, to understand the behavior of monkeys and apes in their natural settings.

Fourthly, is to learn about both the biological and cultural aspects of humanity around the globe and
throughout time.

Fifty goals of anthropology are to apply anthropological knowledge to help prevent or solve problems
of living peoples, including poverty, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS.

Sociology

Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social behaviour. Sociology is a discipline in
social sciences concerned with human society and human social activities.

Commonly accepted definitions of sociology agree that it is the scientific or systematic study of
human society. The focus is on understanding and explaining, and ranges from the individual in
social interaction to groups to societies and global social processes.

Unique to sociology is its emphasis upon the reciprocal relationship between individuals and
societies as they influence and shape each other

Auguste Comte, a French social thinker, is traditionally known as the “Father of Sociology” as he
coined the term ‘Sociology’ in 1839.

Nature of Sociology
As a discipline, sociology arose early in the nineteenth century in response to rapid social change.
Major transformations in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, such as rapid industrialization
resulting in a large, anonymous workforce.

With workers spending most of their time away from families and traditions; large-scale urbanization
throughout Europe and the industrializing world; and a political revolution of new ideas (individual
rights and democracy), directed a spotlight on the nature of societies and social change.

The French social thinker Auguste Comte (1798– 1857) first coined the term sociology to describe a
new way of thinking about societies as systems governed by principles of organization and change.

Most agree that Émile Durkheim (1858–1917), the French sociologist, made the largest contribution
to the emergence of sociology as a social scientific discipline

Sociology has developed as a value-free discipline. It is concerned with is, not with what ought to be.
Sociology is an empirical discipline like Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics, and not as an applied
science like Engineering or Computer Science.

A Sociologist analyses society from different angles and acquires knowledge about society and
patterns of social interactions.

Goals of Sociology:

The ultimate goal of sociology is to acquire knowledge about society like all the other social sciences
discipline, as Samuel Koenig has pointed out the ultimate aim of sociology is ” to improve man’s
adjustment to life by developing objective knowledge concerning social phenomena which can be
used to deal effectively with social problems”.

1. to understand how membership in one’s social group affects individual behavior.

2. to understand the meaning and consequences of modernity, postmodernity and the new
globalization.
3. Understand the meaning and consequences of modernity, postmodernity and the new
globalization.
4. Understand how cultures and institutions interact in different societies.
5. Understand the causes and consequences of social change in terms of general causes and
effects as well as unique historical circumstances.
6. Understand the causes and consequences of population composition and pressures and
how population affects the environment and development of societies.
7. To provide information that reflects upon different policy initiatives

Political Science

Political Science is the study of the nature, causes, and consequences of collective decisions and
actions taken by groups of people embedded in cultures and institutions that structure power and
authority.

In other words, Political Science is a social science discipline that deals with systems of governance,
and the analysis of political activities, political thoughts, associated constitutions and political
behaviour.
Nature of Political Science

Politics is not only a mere institution of governance but also a mechanism for achieving societal
goals. Nature of Political Science is a social science concerned with the theory and practice of
politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior.

It includes matters concerning the allocation and transfer of power in decision making, the roles and
systems of governance including governments and international organizations, political behavior and
public policies.

Political science is thus a study of the state in the past, present and future of the political
organization, political processes and political functions of political institutions and political theories.
Political science has several subfields, including political theory, public policy, national politics,
international relations, human rights, environmental politics and comparative politics.

The antecedents of Western politics can trace their roots back to Greek thinkers Socrates, Plato
(427–347 BC) and Aristotle (384–322 BC). The studies were philosophy oriented. Plato wrote The
Republic and Aristotle wrote the Politics. Aristotle is known as the Father of Political Science. He is
famous for his statement “Man is a political animal”.

Goals of Political Science:

The main goal of political science is the concern with the process of growth, industrialization and
change and the impact on government forms and policies.

The goal of political science also is to describe how various political systems function, and to find
more effective political systems.

In addition, the goal of political science is to measure the success of governance and specific
policies by examining many factors, including stability, justice, material wealth, peace and public
health.

In conclusion on the nature and goals of anthropology, sociology, and political science we can say
that each discipline has it own unique origin, nature and goals but they are all study human and their
environment.

We hope you have learnt and understand the nature and goals of anthropology, sociology, and
political science.