HISTORICAL

BACKGROUND OF THE
GROWTH OF SOCIAL
SCIENCE
 VIDEO
PRESENTATION
WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY
 A branch of knowledge which
deals with the scientific study of man ,
his works, his body, his behavior and
values in time and space.
It includes man physical, social,
and cultural development that
describes and explains the phenomena
of human life.
 Anthropology helps by providing
insights into strange aspects of past or
even present societies which historians
and sociologist find difficult to
comprehend and explain.
Example of “strange aspects” are
conflict and violence, trial by ordeal,
superstition and witchcraft, fashion,
myths and legends and rituals
concerning rites passage, courtship,
marriage, human sacrifices, and others.
 A scientific discipline originated
from social philosophy and travelogues
of Western travellers. It grew out of the
encounters of social scientist with the
non- Western world.
FRANZ BOAS
He is often considered as the father of
modern American anthropology. He was
the first anthropologist to have rejected
the biological basis of racism or racial
discrimination. He also rejected the
popular Western idea of social evolution
or the development of societies from
lower to higher forms. This kind of theory
influenced by Darwin was rejected by Boas
in favor of HISTORICAL PARTICULARISM.
 In this doctrine, each society is
considered as having a unique form of
culture that cannot be subsumed
under an overall definition of general
culture
BRONISLAW KASPER
MALINOWSKI
A Polish immigrant who did
comprehensive study of Trobriand Island.
Based on his field study, he developed
what social scientists now call as
participant observation. It is a method of
social science research that requires the
anthropologist to have the ability to
participate and blend with the way of life
of a given group of people.
 He is also considered as one of the
most influential ethnographers in 20th
century.
Ethnography is literally the practice
of writing about people . Often, it
taken mean the anthropologist’s way
of making sense of other people’s
modes of thought, since anthropologist
usually study cultures other than their
own.
ALFRED REGINALD
RADCLIFFE-BROWN
He saw individuals as mere products
of social structures. This view led to the
establishment of structural-functionalist
paradigm in anthropology. According to
this view , the basic unit of analysis for
anthropology and social sciences are the
social structures and the functions they
perform to maintain the equilibrium of
society.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Part of the social sciences that
deals with the study of politics, power
and government. In turn, politics refers
to “ the process of making collective
decisions in a community, society, or
group through the application of
influence and power.”
 Political Science studies how even the
most private and personal decisions of
individual are influenced by collective
decisions of a community. Divorce , for
instance, maybe a very personal matter
among couples, but the decision and the
rules on divorce are shaped by collective
decisions arrived at through conflict and
antagonism of different interest groups
within the society, especially religious
groups. As a women’s right advocates
often claim, “ The personal is political.”
 This is systematic study of a state
and its government, with relationships
of men in the community, with
relations of men and groups to the
state itself, and with the relations of
state with other sovereign states
abroad. It emphasizes the use of
power, interest, influence and
diplomacy which is important in
creating a well-ordered society.
POLITICAL SCIENTIST analyse how
people attain political position in the
society, how they maintain their
position, and the outcomes of their
policy implementation within a definite
social territory.
 According to Ricardo Lazo, the
primary goal of Political Science is
citizenship education. It requires the
students to understand and appreciate
the duties and obligations of being a
member of society. Political Science
includes core competencies,
knowledge and skills that help learners
become participative and productive
members of the community.
IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
KNOWLEDGE BASED
- It provides the students the
knowledge and understanding of
government, with all its component
curricula like public, law, political
theory, public administration, political
philosophy and political dynamics.
COMPETENCE BASE
- Inculcates the objectives and
underlying principles of the state that
should be abided by the officials and
its citizens.
SKILLS BASE
- Prepares the students for future
career path, be it in legal profession,
government service, politics, teaching
and many more.