1 Introduction to Anthropology
Definition of Anthropology and Anthropology of Law
Meaning of Anthropology
The word Anthropology comes from two Greek words: "Anthropos", meaning
human or man, and "Logos", meaning study, or discourse. Etymologically,
Anthropology means "the study of humans" or "discourse about man."
It refers to the systematic and scientific study of human beings, including their
origin, development, behavior, culture, and interaction with their environment.
Anthropology seeks to understand humanity in all its forms, both past and
present.
Definition of Anthropology
"Anthropology is the science of humanity, which studies human beings in all their
aspects — from their biological evolution to their cultural forms, past and present."
— Edward B. Tylor (1871),
"Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures and their development."
— Bronisław Malinowski (1922),
"Anthropology is the study of human beings, their environment, and the development
of their cultural, social, and biological structures."
— Franz Boas (1911),
"Anthropology is the study of humanity, focusing on the analysis of human cultures,
the context in which they operate, and how they evolve over time."
— Margaret Mead (1928)
"Anthropology is the holistic study of human beings, combining both the cultural and
biological perspectives to understand human nature and history."
— Ruth Benedict (1934)
History of Anthropology as a Discipline
· Ancient Roots:
Early ideas about human societies can be traced to Greek philosophers like
Herodotus and Aristotle, who wrote about different cultures and customs.
· Colonial Era Influence (15th–18th century):
During European exploration and colonization, travelers, missionaries, and administrators
collected information about indigenous peoples.
These early accounts laid the groundwork for comparative studies of culture.
Emergence in the 19th Century:
Anthropology began to take shape as a distinct academic discipline in the mid-to-
late 1800s in Europe and North America.
It was closely tied to colonialism, as scholars sought to understand and classify
the cultures encountered by explorers and colonizers.
Evolutionary Perspective:
Early anthropologists like Edward B. Tylor and Lewis H. Morgan viewed
human societies through an evolutionary lens, classifying cultures from
"primitive" to "civilized."
This approach is now considered ethnocentric but laid the foundation for early
theories.
Institutionalization:
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, anthropology departments were
established in major universities (e.g., Oxford, Columbia).
The discipline began to adopt scientific methods and systematic fieldwork.
Boasian Revolution (early 20th century):
Franz Boas challenged the evolutionary model and introduced cultural
relativism and historical particularism.
He emphasized empirical fieldwork and laid the foundation for American
anthropology.
Four-Field Approach in the U.S.:
Anthropology in the U.S. developed into four main subfields: Cultural
Anthropology , Physical/Biological Anthropology, Linguistic
Anthropology , Archaeology
This approach became the standard in American universities.
Functionalism and Structuralism (1920s–1960s):
In Britain, Bronisław Malinowski and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown promoted
functionalism, studying how cultural practices serve societal needs.
Claude Lévi-Strauss later introduced structuralism, focusing on universal
patterns in myths and kinship.
Postcolonial and Critical Turns (1970s–Present):
Anthropologists began critiquing colonial legacies, ethnocentrism, and
gender bias in earlier work.
New fields like feminist anthropology, postmodern anthropology, and
global anthropology emerged.
Contemporary Anthropology:
Today, anthropology is a global, interdisciplinary field that engages with issues
like migration, identity, environment, health, and technology.
It combines both qualitative and quantitative methods and collaborates with
other disciplines.
Anthropology of Law
Anthropology of law is a subfield of anthropology that studies how different cultures
create, understand, and enforce laws, rules, and systems of justice.
In simple terms, it looks at law as a social and cultural practice, not just as a set of
written rules.
It focuses on how legal ideas and practices are shaped by customs, traditions,
religion, and everyday life in various societies—especially non-Western or indigenous
communities.
“Anthropology of law is the cross-cultural study of legal institutions, practices, and
ideas. It examines how different societies understand law, resolve disputes, and
maintain social order, often focusing on non-Western or indigenous legal systems.”
— Sally Falk Moore, 1978
Main focus of Anthropology of Law
1) It views law not just as written rules, but as part of a society’s culture, traditions,
and social behavior.
2) It studies and compares legal systems from different societies, especially non-
Western or indigenous communities.
3) It explores how communities follow unwritten traditional laws passed down
through generations.
4) It looks at how people in different societies solve conflicts—through councils,
elders, mediators, or rituals.
5) It emphasizes how social norms and moral values often guide behavior more than
formal law.
6) It examines who has the power to make and enforce laws in a society and how
that power is justified.
7) It studies how multiple legal systems (e.g., state law, religious law, customary
law) can exist and interact within one society.
8) It explores how colonialism disrupted or reshaped traditional legal systems in
many parts of the world.
9) It considers how laws reflect and shape community identity, beliefs, and social
relations.
10) It sees law as evolving over time, influenced by changes in society, politics, and
culture.
Importance of Anthropology of Law
1. Anthropology of law helps us understand how legal systems differ across cultures
and are shaped by local traditions and customs.
2. It gives recognition and respect to customary and indigenous laws that are often
ignored by formal legal systems.
3. The field promotes the idea of legal pluralism by showing how multiple legal
systems can operate together within a single society.
4. It reveals how formal legal systems can sometimes create inequality or injustice,
especially for marginalized communities.
5. Anthropology of law guides lawmakers and policymakers to create fair and
effective laws that match the social and cultural realities of a community.
6. It supports peaceful conflict resolution by highlighting traditional methods of
solving disputes without relying solely on courts.
7. The discipline explains that law is not separate from society but deeply connected
to culture, belief systems, and social relationships.
8. By studying local laws, it helps preserve cultural heritage and traditional
knowledge.
9. It contributes to human rights work by offering ways to protect rights that are
respectful of local customs and values.
10. Anthropology of law encourages global understanding and cooperation by
promoting respect for different legal traditions and ways of maintaining justice.
