ANTHR 6430 - [Concepts and Categories in Theory and Practice]

Fall. 4 credits.

Next offered 2012–2013.

P. Nadasdy.

Concepts and categories form the basis of much human thought and action, and anthropologists have long been fascinated by how humans categorize the world. Yet, concepts and categories shape anthropological thought and practice as well. The conceptual tools we bring to bear in the study of socio-cultural phenomena profoundly shape our understandings of them. Despite this, however, many of the concepts and categories that anthropologists and other social scientists use are implicit in their work rather than consciously theorized. The goal of this course is to make students aware of the role that concepts and categories play in the practice of social science and to provide them with the theoretical tools needed to evaluate conceptual frameworks in the social sciences.