Can elements of one culture-kinship relations, for example-be
profitably compared to similar elements in other cultures?
According to much anthropological thinking of recent decades, the
answer is 'no.' Cultures are closed systems, many people argue, and
their internal elements can only be understood with respect to the
culture as a whole. Cultural anthropologist Robert C. Hunt, drawing
on his vast experience studying cultures around the world, here
makes a powerful counter-argument that the various elements making
up a culture not only can but must be compared across cultures if
we are to understand them at all. Cultural comparison is not easy,
and it cannot eliminate all ambiguity, but it is necessary if we
are to develop a scientific understanding of how cultures work.
This intriguing polemic will appeal to students of cultural
anthropology, sociology, and ethnic studies, especially those
interested in the theoretical grounding of these disciplines.
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