Walking on the small path in the countryside

Author: Xu Jiesun, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Anthropology · Thousand-Armed Avalokite?vara Series, In the process of developing its discipline, anthropology has cultivated a grand vision that spans heaven and earth, connects past and present, and integrates Eastern and Western perspectives, forming unique methodological values. According to the author's understanding, the methodological value of anthropology has two levels. One level is the value of thinking methods, which includes universality, holism, integration, and other content. The other level is the value of analytical methods, which includes functional analysis, structural analysis, cultural diffusion analysis, cultural change analysis, cultural circle analysis, cultural pattern analysis, typological analysis, comparative analysis, emic analysis, and etic analysis, etc. Anthropology frequently "joins hands" with other disciplines, and from a methodological perspective, the academic value of its thinking methodology is highly attractive to other disciplines. Taking the universality of anthropological thinking methods as an example, it emphasizes that no matter what ethnic or national group, they all belong to the same species—humans. No group has evolved to a higher level, and any group contributes to our understanding of human potential and limits. This universal thinking method of human equality is something that any discipline must adhere to. The current popular "human-centered" concept also originates from the universality of anthropological methodology. Therefore, fundamentally speaking, if any discipline deviates from the concept of "human-centeredness" and starts from its pure theory, it is easy to lead the development of the discipline astray from a path that is detached from or neglects people. This is why anthropology exerts such social attraction on other disciplines.