Anthropology revolves round answers to problems about the nature,
development and unity of mankind; problems that are both
philosophical and scientific. In this book, first published in
1984, Professor Jarvie applies Popper's philosophy of science to
understanding the history and theory of anthropology. Jarvie
describes how the ancient view that the aim of science and
philosophy was to get at the truth is challenged in anthropology by
the doctrine of cultural relativism; that is, that truth varies
with the cultural framework. He shows how philosophers as various
as Peter Winch, W.V.O. Quine, W.T. Jones, Nelson Goodman and
Richard Rorty were influenced by this doctrine. Yet these
philosophers also accept the value of rational argument. Jarvie
believes that there is a contradiction between relativism and any
notion of human rationality that centres around argument. Forced by
the contradiction to choose between rationality and relativism, he
argues strongly that logical, scientific and moral considerations
favour rationality and urge repudiation of relativism. The central
argument of the book is that relativism is intellectually
disastrous and has fostered intellectual attitudes from which
anthropology still suffers.
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