As an anthropologist, I'm often asked about the origins of our discipline. Anthropology is a complex field with roots that can be traced back to various cultural, philosophical, and scientific traditions. However, if we're talking about the formal establishment of anthropology as a distinct academic discipline, there are several key figures and moments that stand out.

The founding of anthropology is a multifaceted story, involving a number of pioneers who contributed to the development of the field. It's important to note that anthropology, as we understand it today, is a product of a long and complex history of intellectual development, rather than the work of a single individual.

In the Western tradition, the Enlightenment period saw a surge of interest in human societies and cultures, with figures like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Johann Gottfried Herder laying some of the philosophical groundwork for the study of humanity in its cultural and social dimensions. However, the discipline as we know it today took more definitive shape in the 19th century.

During this time, Evolutionary Anthropology emerged, with figures like Charles Darwin and Lewis Henry Morgan contributing to the understanding of human development through the lens of evolution and social progress. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection provided a framework for understanding biological variation, while Morgan's work on kinship and social organization laid the foundation for the study of human societies.

The 19th century also saw the development of Physical Anthropology, with researchers like Paul Broca in France and Thomas Huxley in England contributing to the study of human anatomy and the classification of human races.

However, it was in the 20th century that anthropology began to take on its modern form.
Franz Boas stands out as a pivotal figure in this transformation. Boas, a German-born Jewish scholar, immigrated to the United States and established academic anthropology there. He was critical of the evolutionary perspective and sought to develop a more empirical and nuanced approach to the study of human cultures.

Boas's approach was characterized by its empiricism, skepticism of overgeneralizations, and a **rejection of attempts to establish universal laws**. He emphasized the importance of fieldwork and participant observation, which became hallmarks of anthropological research. Boas also championed the idea that cultures should be understood on their own terms, a concept known as cultural relativism.

Boas's influence extended beyond his own work. He trained a generation of anthropologists, including Margaret Mead, Ruth Benedict, and Melville Herskovits, who went on to make significant contributions to the field. His emphasis on cultural diversity and the importance of understanding cultural contexts has had a lasting impact on anthropology.

In addition to Boas, other figures like Bronisław Malinowski and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown in the early 20th century developed fieldwork methods and theoretical frameworks that further shaped the discipline. Malinowski's work in the Trobriand Islands and his emphasis on functionalism, and Radcliffe-Brown's development of structural-functionalism, both contributed to the systematic study of social structures and cultural practices.

It's also worth noting that anthropology has been shaped by various intellectual movements and disciplinary interactions. The cross-fertilization between anthropology and fields like sociology, psychology, and biology has been crucial in the development of subfields such as cognitive anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology.

In conclusion, while it's not accurate to attribute the founding of anthropology to a single individual, Franz Boas is often recognized for his significant role in shaping the discipline in the United States. His empirical approach, skepticism, and emphasis on cultural relativism have been foundational to the development of anthropology as we know it today.

read more >>

Franz BoasFranz Boas established academic anthropology in the United States in opposition to this sort of evolutionary perspective. His approach was empirical, skeptical of overgeneralizations, and eschewed attempts to establish universal laws.read more >>