Synopses & Reviews
This comprehensive survey of contemporary thought in biological, social and cultural anthropology sets the foundation for their future development and integration. The principal rationale behind the Encyclopedia is to overcome the division and fragmentation within the approaches of the humanities and natural sciences to anthropology. It emphasizes interconnections between perspectives and sub-disciplines, producing a complete perspective on what it means to be human.
The work consists of three parts--Humanity, Culture, and Social Life--and 40 major contributions. Part One emphasizes human beings as members of a species, how that species differs from others, how it has evolved, and how human populations have adapted to and in turn transformed their environments. Part Two deals with the origin and structure of human culture, and on the role of culture in action, perception, and cognition. Part Three examines the various aspects of the relationships and processes that are carried on by persons and groups in the course of social life.
Useful features such as cross-references within the text, full biographical references, suggestions for further reading and carefully illustrated line drawings make this an indispensable resource for all students of anthropology or sociology.
Table of Contents
Introduction to humanity / Tim Ingold -- Humanity and animality / Tim Ingold -- The evolution of early hominids / Phillip V. Tobias -- Human evolution : the last one million years / Clive Gamble -- The origins and evolution of language / Philip Lieberman -- Tools and tool behaviour / Thomas Wynn -- Niche construction, evolution and culture / F.J. Odling-Smee -- Modes of subsistence : hunting and gathering to agriculture and pastoralism / Roy Ellen -- The diet and nutrition of human populations / Igor de Garine -- Demographic expansion : causes and consequences / Mark N. Cohen -- Disease and the destruction of indigenous populations / Stephen J. Kunitz -- Introduction to culture / Tim Ingold -- Why animals have neither culture nor history / David Premack, Ann James Premack -- Symbolism : the foundation of culture / Mary LeCron Foster -- Artefacts and the meaning of things / Daniel Miller -- Technology / Franðcois Sigaut -- Spatial organization and the built environment / Amos Rapoport --