Culture

Both the chapter on Culture and the chapter on Applied Anthropology address the issue of relativism. There are several kinds of relativism and relativism can be used either positively or negatively. Normally, we think of cultural relativism as a positive force in the world today; however, some think differently about ethical relativism. The notion of universalism is in some ways oppositional to the idea of relativism.
For this conference (there is only one conference for this week), review the appropriate readings on relativism and write 3-4 well constructed paragraphs about what the notion of “relativism as a negative cultural factor” might look like in human societies. Your text provides you with many of the basic ideas about this, but you should augment your response with an academic article from the internet. Google “relativism” and push enter or use the library services to help you locate what you need. Remember to cite your sources in APA format (see Webliography, APA link for citation styles).

This quiz is text-based and open-book. All you need send me is a list from 1-10 of your answers. You do not need to send the test itself. This test covers the assigned readings from Weeks 1 and 2.
1. At what point did the perspective that social problems are God-made to the view that society is history-made begin?
a. During the Middle Ages
b. During the time of the ancient philosophers
c. During the beginning of the Enlightenment period
2. Since the human brain has grown exponentially, it can “hold” a great deal more information than it could only ten years ago.
a. True
b. False
3. When scientists take a thousand samples of X, then form a hypothesis and begin measuring, this process known as ___ reasoning.
a. Inductive b. deductive
4. What constitutes the basis of Darwinian Natural Selection?
a. The continuous evolving of species to the point that they are perfect
b. Reproductive success and species variation
c. Social Darwinism
5. When people solve their problems by trying one thing first, the something else second, and so on, this is referred to as __.
a. Situational learning b. social learning c. symbolic learning
6. Social science has studied ethnic groups for a long time. Ethnic groups are both interesting and diverse, but what constitutes the essence of an ethnic group?
a. The group must believe, whether true or not, that it shares a common ancestry, history, or culture
b. The group must be extremely different from all other groups in significant ways
c. The group must possess a hierarchy of power, with an authoritarian leader at the top
7. What does the majority of archaeological research concern itself with?
a. Applying what it knows to society’s problems today
b. Interpreting past societies
c. Both equally
8. If I am engaged in considering possible consequences of changing something within a community, what am I doing?
a. Studying the Elgin Marbles b. forensic archaeology c. social-impact studies
9. Considering the issues related to relativism, what does the author recommend?
a. Every society should have its own humanitarian standard
b. The International community should respect each society’s humanitarian standard
c. There should be a humanitarian standard recognized by all societies
10. Did the ethical controversies in El Dorado result in anthropologists reexamining the way they conduct their research?
a. Yes b. No

Please read the following pages for Week 2:
Pages 29-58; 62-66; 68-71; 73-103; 105-118 in the text

This material deals with anthropology, evolution, culture, and some other issues.

Pages 1-28 of the text

” A deep systematic and objective knowledge of the culture of the client would be extremely helpful to the counsellor during the counselling sessions.” (Pittu Laungani: 1999:65). Discuss.