Anthropology studies the origins of people, their development, and documents the variations and similarities observed among people. This discipline further tries to account for the observed differences and similarities. Anthropology is divided into several branches, including linguistics, biological, and cultural anthropology among others. Since no single individual can experience all cultures, the perceptions and comprehensions of other cultures are limited. Therefore, various branches of anthropology give people a chance to study and understand these differences as it was mentioned in one of the social issues essays. The analysis shows that in its search for biotic, cultural beginnings, and the fruition of the human race, anthropology is different from other disciplines; it needs a strict code of ethics, and plays a major role in migration
Key Differentiators between Anthropology and Other Disciplines
Undeniably, several aspects differentiate anthropology from other disciplines. Since it seeks to describe and interrelate all characteristics of the human life, anthropology is holistic as compared to other disciplines. To gain comprehension on a relationship, anthropologists focus on more than just one element of the people (Callan Street, 2013). Anthropologists acknowledge that consumers, behavior patterns, and challenges define the environments a populace inhabits. For instance, to understand the health characteristics of a country, anthropology would focus on more aspects than just the income and educational levels as would an economics discipline do. Since it studies all aspects of life and finds how they relate to each other, anthropology is different from the disciplines such as economics that rely on a few facets in their research studies to draw their conclusions and findings.
Another differentiating characteristic is the comparative methods employed by anthropology. The main concern of anthropologists is the worldwide study of human beings. Consequently, in a bid to have a rightly universal humanoid science, anthropologists rely on more data than that gathered from a few characteristics. For instance, in biology, the conclusions about populations can be made by studying just a sample representative of the populace. To understand the components of the elements under study, samples are taken in chemistry and physics, and findings generalized to characterize all similar samples. This shows that anthropologists do not confine their inquiries and studies to certain or limited parts of the world, as they would miss much about the human species. Whereas other disciplines rely on small data collected from quantitative methods, anthropologists immerse themselves in the culture of the study population to draw their findings (Callan Street, 2013).
The Importance of a Strict code of Ethics in Anthropology
Ethical considerations are imperative in the conduct of the activities related to anthropology. One main reason that necessitates the need for a strict code of ethics in anthropology is the fact that it deals and focuses on human beings. This is different from chemistry, for instance, that deals with lifeless objects. Further, anthropology researchers might possess more powers than their study subjects do. For instance, the researchers from the Western countries are likely to have more power than those in marginalized or small tribes such as the Amazon tribes. Without a clear set of ethics, the subjects of anthropology may be harmed (Nanda Warms, 2010). A strict code of ethics is needed to ensure that the study is done in a humane and respectful way. Thus, a set of rules ensures that research subjects (humans) are respected and human dignity upheld.
Secondly, ethics in anthropology informs behaviors and helps to restrict the scientific practice. Such ethics guides anthropologists on what is acceptable in society and what is not (Nanda Warms, 2010). The set of ethics also advises anthropologists on the type of studies that would be beneficial to society. The principles of magnanimity and integrity restrict anthropologists from causing harm to the subjects and societies. For instance, in war-torn areas, the frequent requests for the anthropological assistance of the American government continue to be a litigious issue. Therefore, the involvement or the lack of anthropologists is governed by ethics.
Roles of Anthropologists in Migration
Migration is one of the most studied subjects globally because it informs the roots and the evolution of humankind. Furthermore, anthropologists play a foremost role in migration. First, anthropological researchers study evidence and track the migratory movements of the ancient and prehistoric peoples (Guest, 2013). For instance, since the USA has different ethnic origins comprising its populace, anthropologists study the migratory trajectories of such groups. As such, a sense of belonging and identity is created for people. A study of the immigration of pilgrims into the USA would also reveal a great amount of educative information. By collaborating with other disciplines, such as geography, anthropologists can trace the beginning of a culture or people from thousands of years ago.
Further, anthropologists invest in studying the characteristics that lead to different migrations. In the early years, anthropology focused on migration by shedding light on people’s movements from the rural to urban and industrialized countries. An economic approach, such as that demonstrated by world systems theory, was used to explain the different migration characteristics observed by anthropologists (Guest, 2013). However, today, they have encompassed cultural and social dimensions to explain the migration process. For instance, there is an influx of immigrants in the USA. Several anthropological studies, such as that by the American Anthropological Association, help inform the issues other than economic gains that lead to such migrations. Anthropologists study how immigrants are responded to and perceived in the places they migrate to. Such studies also focus on how the immigrants respond to the same perceptions, which is important since it creates a continuous curiosity on the migration process by anthropologists. For instance, Ruth-Gomberg Munoz studied how Mexican workers immigrating to Chicago were treated (Guest, 2013). Therefore, such studies are imperative to migration studies as they trace the development of the human race.
Conclusion
In conclusion, anthropology, unlike other physical sciences, focuses on people’s lives and their development. Its holistic approach of study and the comparative method of research make it different from other disciplines. Further, anthropology employs a strict code of ethics to govern scientific practice. Anthropologists also play a major role in the migration process. Not only do they trace the origins of their subjects but also the perception, at which migrants are held in the places they migrate to. By focusing on the development of humankind, anthropologists not only help to preserve history but also create room for the study of various cultures.
