Anthropology as the foundational social science discipline

Anthropology: The Fundamental Social Science

Anthropology is, according the American Anthropological Association, "the study of humans, past and present" (AAA, 2011). Anthropology looks at what it means to be human; it is "a field of inquiry that studies human culture and evolutionary aspects of human biology, including cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and biological anthropology" (Jurmain, Kilgore, & Trevathan 2006: 6). It, therefore, is the fundamental social (and behavioral) science discipline that is concerned with humans. To understand Anthropology, one must understand social science, which is "a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of sociality" (Webster's, 2011). While other social sciences describe and explain aspects of humanity, anthropology looks at humanity holistically.

Anthropology

Anthropology is, at its heart, a discipline concerned with both the biological and sociocultural aspects of humanity. As such, it sets the stage for all other disciplines. Disciplines such as economics, geography, history, linguistics, political science, and sociology all rely on anthropological information and methodology, or, at least, understand humanity is a fundamentally limited way (e.g., understanding humanity only from a western/North American perspective or a post-industrial revolutionary perspective). Anthropology, however, tries to understand what exactly it means to be human. It seeks, though biological anthropology, to understand exactly where "humanity" is defined (genetically and evolutionarily), and to understand how "humans" are different from their closest relatives (i.e., the chimpanzees).

It further seeks to understand the second most fundamental influence (behind biology) on humanity: culture. Culture is that entity which sets the stage for all other behaviors. It prescribes the "rights' and "wrongs" of a group of people. Culture is "all aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage patterns, and social roles." (Jurmain, Kilgore, & Trevathan 2006: 493). Culture represents learned behaviors, but provides the basis for understanding humans in their own (culturally constructed) environment. When one thinks about the difference between, for example, Germans and Americans, one is invoking notions of culture. When a person moves from one area to another, s/he may experience what is known as culture shock, which, essentially, is the inability to rectify the differences between one's home culture with the new culture that s/he or finds him/herself in. Anthropology tries to understand these differences (and similarities) to make them relatable to everyone. Anthropology feels it is its job to turn the unfamiliar into the familiar.

Conclusion

In conclusion, not only does anthropology set the stage for the biological predispositions that lead to the realm of the social sciences (e.g., it sets the stage for the physiological ability to communicate, it explains the evolutionary significance for intelligence as a survival mechanism), it forms a foundation for the underpinnings of society (which allows the other social sciences to study the human experience). Anthropology, being concerned with what is human, really does make for the fundamental science to understanding society and all aspects of humanity.