original_query: What is the purpose of systems theory in anthropology?
query: What is the purpose of systems theory in anthropology?
answer: Systems theory in anthropology aims to understand society's complexity by integrating natural and social sciences, overcoming dualistic thinking (e.g., subject-object), and focusing on open systems and interactions rather than closed categories.  It challenges traditional representational approaches by emphasizing the tracing of networks and avoiding the imposition of pre-conceived mental concepts.