Social anthropology is, in the classic definition, dedicated to
the study of distant civilizations in their traditional and
contemporary forms. But there is a larger aspiration: the
comparative study of all human societies in the light of those
challengingly unfamiliar beliefs and customs that expose our own
ethnocentric limitations and put us in our place within the wider
gamut of the world's civilizations. Thematically guided by social
setting and cultural expression of identity, Social and Cultural
Anthropology in Perspective is a dynamic and highly acclaimed
introduction to the field of social anthropology, which also
examines its links with cultural anthropology. A challenging new
introduction critically surveys the latest trends, pointing to
weaknesses as well as strengths.
Presented in a clear, lively, and entertaining fashion, this
volume offers a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to social
anthropology for use by teachers and students. Skillfully weaving
together theory and ethnographic data, author Ioan M. Lewis
advocates an eclectic approach to anthropology. He combines the
strengths of British structural-functionalism with the leading
ideas of Marx, Freud, and Levi-Strauss while utilizing the methods
of historians, political scientists, and psychologists. One of
Lewis' particular concerns is to reveal how insights from
"traditional" cultures illuminate what we take for granted in
contemporary industrial and post-industrial society. He also shows
how, in the pluralist world in which we live, those who study
"other" cultures ultimately learn about themselves. Social
anthropology is thus shown to be as relevant today as it has been
in the past.
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