Foundations of Anthropological Theory

The formal discipline of anthropology emerged out of centuries of European reflection on the nature of non-Europeans, but the roots of this field were laid down long before. Foundations of Anthropological Theory presents a selection of key texts that reflect the broad scope of writings on human behavior across cultures that are the basis for the modern study of Anthropology. Editor, Robert Launay reveals how the concerns of contemporary anthropology were first formulated by early thinkers, from observations by Herodotus and Ibn Battuta to the works of Adam Smith and Adam Ferguson. The readings explore the origins and nature of different social and political systems, as well as the origins of inequality, and the presumptive rights of Europeans to judge the inherent moral worth of non-Western civilizations. These illuminating selections provide fascinating insight into the ways historians, philosophers, missionaries, and even writers of fiction have made valuable contributions to modern anthropological inquiry. Accessible and thought-provoking, Foundations of Anthropological Theory will be of interest to students and scholars alike.