Marvin Harris was an American anthropologist who profoundly influenced the development of cultural materialism. His work synthesized Marx's emphasis on the forces of production with Malthusian insights on demographic factors, which he posited as crucial in determining a society's social structure and culture. Harris shifted his focus from ideological aspects of culture to behavioral ones, striving for a nomothetic, scientific understanding of human culture. His approach, drawing upon and refining Marxist concepts, also incorporated demographic dynamics as determinants of sociocultural evolution.
Written by a foremost spokesperson on cultural materialism, this book introduces students to the four fields of anthropology making all aspects of archaeology, linguistics, physical anthropology and cultural anthropology accessible and relevant to readers.
An Introduction to General Anthropology - Fifth Edition
Written by a foremost spokesperson on cultural materialism, this book introduces students to the four fields of anthropology making all aspects of archaeology, linguistics, physical anthropology and cultural anthropology accessible and relevant to readers.
In this brilliant and profound study the distinguished American anthropologist Marvin Harris shows how the endless varieties of cultural behavior -- often so puzzling at first glance -- can be explained as adaptations to particular ecological conditions. His aim is to account for the evolution of cultural forms as Darwin accounted for the evolution of biological to show how cultures adopt their characteristic forms in response to changing ecological modes."[A] magisterial interpretation of the rise and fall of human cultures and societies."-- Robert Lekachman, Washington Post Book World"Its persuasive arguments asserting the primacy of cultural rather than genetic or psychological factors in human life deserve the widest possible audience."-- Gloria Levitas The New Leader"[An] original and...urgent theory about the nature of man and at the reason that human cultures take so many diverse shapes."-- The New Yorker"Lively and controversial."-- I. Bernard Cohen, front page, The New York Times Book Review
One of America's leading anthropolgists offers solutions to the perplexing question of why people behave the way they do. Why do Hindus worship cows? Why do Jews and Moslems refuse to eat pork? Why did so many people in post-medieval Europe believe in witches? Marvin Harris answers these and other perplexing questions about human behavior, showing that no matter how bizarre a people's behavior may seem, it always stems from identifiable and intelligble sources.
Examines the changes taking place in modern America, and discusses shoddy workmanship, poor service, inflation, crime, and religious cults.
In this book, Marvin Harris presents his current views on the nature of culture addressing such issues as the mental/behavioral debate, emics and etics, and anthropological holism.
Cultural Materialism, published in 1979, was Marvin Harris's first full-length explication of the theory with which his work has been associated. While Harris has developed and modified some of his ideas over the past two decades, generations of professors have looked to this volume as the essential starting point for explaining the science of culture to students. Now available again after a hiatus, this edition of Cultural Materialism contains the complete text of the original book plus a new introduction by Orna and Allen Johnson that updates his ideas and examines the impact that the book and theory have had on anthropological theorizing.
Die (Kultur-)Geschichte der Welt - faktenreich, interdisziplinär, knapp und mitunter provozierend gedeutet und zu einem einheitlichen Ganzen zusammengefasst aus anthropologischer Sicht.
Perché alcuni mangiano cani, gatti e dingo, mentre altri evitano la carne di mucca, maiale o cavallo? Perché alcuni odiano il latte e i suoi derivati, mentre altri considerano cibo prelibato lombrichi e cavallette? Perché le abitudini alimentari dei popoli cambiano nel tempo e sono così diverse? Dalla preistoria ai giorni nostri, dai riti sacrificali all'hamburger del fast-food: appassionante come la trama avventurosa di un romanzo, la ricerca dell'antropologo americano conduce il lettore a continue scoperte, avvicinandolo a gusti e disgusti noti e ignoti, ciascuno specchio di storie affascinanti e di realtà all'apparenza inspiegabili.
Los temas tratados van explícita y lógicamente desde los fundamentos biológicos y evolucionistas de la cultura hasta los aspectos infraestructurales, estructurales y superestructurales de los sistemas socioculturales. Al estudiante se le explica el porqué de este orden de presentación y se le muestra cómo los temas tratados en la primera parte del libro se relacionan con los que se tratan más adelante. Siguiendo algunas sugerencias hechas por los críticos, también he añadido un capítulo de lingüística antropológica.
Beständigkeit und Wandel in der modernen Welt
Raadsels van de cultuur
Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso
