Franz Boas: The Father of American Anthropology
Franz Boas is the father of American anthropology as well as the founder of modern anthropology. Franz contributed significantly to the development of contemporary anthropology through introducing rigorous scientific methodology; he also referred culture as a learned behavior as well as patterning after the natural science (Seiferle-Valencia).
Emphasizing Research Before Generalization
First, Boas emphasized research before generalization. His methodology was a total contrast to the British school of anthropology claim which insisted on the creation of theories based on tested fieldworks.
A Need for Change in Anthropology
Before Boas, good work was undergoing in the anthropology fields although the field contained much-untrained personnel and armchair philosophers. There were various uncouth practices such as racial segregation and bigotry was also rampant. Besides, the methodologies used for gathering information were haphazard as were riddled with an assortment of bias. With those philosophers, it was widespread and okay using scrap information and preconceived pet theories to foretell the nature of man (Kluckhohn).
The Methodology of Natural Science
The significant contribution of Boas to the field of anthropology was the methodology of natural science and the clarity that researchers could only formulate theories and conclusions after undertaking thorough and vigorous research with hard evidence on board. With such an approach, the results were very valid, and the findings could be tested through restudy to ascertain the validity. Also, Boas stated that all theoretical works should be treated as works in progress until enough research is done to prove any shadow of the doubt. Boas reinstated that the scientist should all the time remain critical of his work and keen to any factor that may skew or introduce bias in the results.
The Study of Culture
Since Boas was grounded in natural science, he was acutely aware that the difference between zoology and humankind study was the study of culture. According to him, the culture was not just a synonym of civilization nor was it predestined to some linear progression until the equivalent of civilized European community resulted (Lewis). Moreover, he rejected the prejudice that those from different societies other than the civilized European community were inferior human species. He declined all those orthogenesis and stuck by Charles Darwin's evolution conception that changes occurred due to current opportunities and pressure.
Development of Basic Methodologies
Boas further helped in the development of basic methodologies that emphasize modern anthropology research. His feeling was that one could understand a particular culture through completely surveying mythology and tribal lore, marriage customs, diet, food obtaining means, religion, physical appearance, and handicraft, and so on. As the study of culture grew, and anthropology became more embellished and sophisticated, the field of anthropology became divided into human evolution, culture, language, and anthropology. According to the new standards applied to cultural anthropology, ethnographers should visit the respective locations, study the language, and carry out intensive research on all the elements mentioned above and any other unique feature (Kluckhohn). Also, all the anthropologists should follow scientific standards and put ethical behavior and truth first. Boas also never limited his suggestions on the methods of carrying anthropology, but on political and social matters as well.
A Lasting Legacy
Despite the political challenges depicted in his findings, Boas left behind an extensive legacy. It includes scientific methods for fieldwork, his introduction of the tenets of culture realism, historical particularity, the culture notion around which modern anthropology rotates and so on. He also emphasized linguistic structure and analysis, his emphasis on studying physical anthropology through statistical methods and the contribution to archaeology (Boas). Boas also contributed to ending oppression and bigotry and assist the gifted individuals whom the bigotry destroyed. Finally, Boas cultivated different anthropologist's generations to study and record the vanishing culture of different people, more so, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans.
Work cited
Boas, Franz. Anthropology and modern life. Routledge, 2017.
Kluckhohn, Clyde. Mirror for man: The relation of anthropology to modern life. Routledge, 2017.
Lewis, Herbert S. In defense of anthropology: an investigation of the critique of anthropology. Routledge, 2017.
Seiferle-Valencia, Anna. Race, Language and Culture. Macat Library, 2017.
