1. Biological Anthropology
Introduction to Biological Anthropology

2. What is Anthropology? Anthropo logy anthropos - ἄνθρωπος legein - λέγω
from the Greek
anthropos - ἄνθρωπος
meaning “man; man-faced; a human being”
from the Greek
legein - λέγω
meaning “to speak”

3. Four-Field Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Archaeology
Linguistic Anthropology
Biological (or Physical) Anthropology

4. Cultural Anthropology
Focuses on the role culture plays in human life
Culture is
The primary means by which humans adapt
Learned by individuals as they grow up within a group
Passed on from generation to generation
Constantly changing

5. Archaeology Focuses on human life in the past Humans of the past
Relied on their cultures to adapt
Shared many common features with recent and modern humans
Saw their cultures change as a result of the same processes that change cultures today

6. Linguistic Anthropology
Focuses on the role language plays in human life
Language is
The primary means by which a human learns his/her culture
Learned by individuals as they grow up within a group
Passed on from generation to generation
Constantly changing

7. Biological Anthropology (aka“Physical Anthropology”)
Focuses on humans as biological organisms
Biological organisms
Have similar features and needs
Are the products of evolutionary and environmental forces
Are genetically unique

8. Four-Field Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Archaeology
Linguistic Anthropology
Biological (or Physical) Anthropology
Applied Anthropology (aka the “fifth field”)
the cultural fields
the biological field
making it relevant

9. Biological Anthropology
Links the study of humans as individuals who live in societies to the fact that we are animals who live in groups
An explicitly scientific field
 uses the tools of biology and other sciences

10. So let’s talk about Science

11. Some Terms used in Science
Hypothesis: a statement developed to explain a phenomenon – must be testable/potentially falsifiable
Data: the evidence that helps assess a hypothesis
Empirical: derived from observations/experiments
Theory: a set of explanatory principles (hypotheses) that have not (yet) been falsified

12. Science is … a process that develops provisional truths
That is, “truths” that may one day be replaced by better “truths”

13. a process that develops absolute truths
Science is not…
a process that develops absolute truths
That is, TRUTHS that may not be questioned and can never be corrected or improved upon

14. Two Assumptions of Science
You explain natural phenomena only by referring to other natural phenomena
Methodological materialism
(this is NOT the same as Philosophical Materialism)
2) If two models both explain the data, use the simplest (unless you have a reason not to)
Occam’s razor

15. Science can be understood as
a process of “modeling” reality
reality

16. A Theory Emerges the first model x + 1 = y
does not explain some aspects of its focus
predicts outcomes that will not occur

17. Science Advances a second, “better” model x2 + 2z = 0
unexplained phenomena
predicted, but not “real”

18. Comprehension Increases
another, even “better” model
predicted, but not “real”
unexplained phenomena

19. Science as the Quest for
ever “better” models

20. Is there a “perfect” model? predicts nothing that does not exist
explains all phenomena that do exist

21. Not yet…

22. Science as a revolutionary process
A “Paradigm Shift”
scientific “revolution”
anomalies
“normal” science

23. The Copernican Revolution
the shift from a geocentric (“earth-centered”) to a heliocentric (“sun-centered”) model of the solar system

24. Challenging the geocentric view is heresy
An Immobile Earth
All celestial objects move around the earth
the heavens are perfect, the earth imperfect
these Greek Ideas are adopted by Christian thinkers
The Human drama is the reason for creation
Earth is “center stage”
Challenging the geocentric view is heresy

25. Two Different Explanations
The Geocentric View
The Heliocentric View
Different celestial objects move in very different ways
The Earth moves in the same way as other celestial objects

26. Nicholas Copernicus 1473-1543 Physician, lawyer, church administrator
De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (“On the Revolutions of the Celestial Orbs”) published in 1543

27. Heliocentric Worldview
the planets all move in a similar manner
Heliocentrism
makes fewer assumptions
has greater applicability
the movements of celestial objects can be explained and predicted
Retrograde Mars (and Uranus) Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel

28. But acceptance was slow, as heliocentrism seemed absurd
If the earth is moving, how can a stone that is thrown straight up come straight down?
If the earth is a planet, why is it the only one with a moon?
If the earth did move, why did the relative positions of the stars not (why would space be that big?)

29. Galileo Galilei Born 1564 Begins studies at University of Pisa in 1581
1592 – appointed professor of mathematics at University of Padua

30. Galileo Galilei 1609 – makes his first telescope Discovers Sunspots
Rings of Saturn
Phases of Venus
Satellites of Jupiter
Galileo’s notes of his observations of Jupiter and its moons; January 1610

31. Galileo Galilei Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1633)
Condemned by the Roman Inquisition in 1633
Under house arrest from until his death in 1642

32. Science as a revolutionary process
the “revolution” – earth goes around sun
anomalies – planetos
“normal” science – sun goes around earth

33. Things to remember
Scientific discovery is driven by the community of scientists, who actively look for problems with theories
Scientific truths are provisional, as better models are continually being pursued
Science is a self-correcting process
Scientific discoveries may contradict cherished notions of what the world is like