Title: Why Anthropology? | Anthropology | Mesa Community College
Headings: Why Anthropology?
Why Anthropology?
Content: Archaeology: the study of the human past through material remains with the aim of reconstructing, ordering and describing the daily life, customs, and events of past people. Collectively these disciplines provide anthropology with a background of information that helps us build a wide-ranging understanding of humanness itself. It would not be possible to fully appreciate what makes us human without this broad and holistic perspective. Anthropologists also look for similarities and differences between people and their cultures by using a cross-cultural approach to answer questions. For example, from studying cultures around the world, we know that every culture is ethnocentric; that is, they believe their way of life, their values, and their worldview is superior to all others. The question is why do cultures take this perspective? The answer appears relatively simple. If we believe our way of life is better, then we simply reject anything foreign that comes along.