Anthropological Research of Functionalism and Materialism
Introduction
In this present essay, a critical analysis and notions of the anthropological research of functionalism, functional-structural and historical materialism will be addressed as a rehearsal issue, in which we will approach the theories and contributions of social authors and researchers, such as: Talcott Parsons , Émile Durkheim, Bronislaw Malinowski, Herbert Spencer, Radcliffe-Brown etc.
This essay aims, basically analyze the functionalist theory, so we will ask ourselves in the following question What is functionalism and what positions the authors have? Then, we will conceptualize the perspective of functionalism-structural and the interpretations of radcliffe-brow and Malinowski anthropologists. Then, we will focus on an anthropological critical look of historical materialism. And later, we will consider some conclusions.
Developing
Throughout the history of anthropology as a social science, functionalist and structural-functionalist current have marked a historical legacy in the development of modern anthropology. The apogee of functionalism ranges between approximately 20 and 50.
When we refer to the current of functionalism as such, it is understood on the one hand as a theoretical current that emerged in England for the year of 1930, and that this focuses on the established order of societies. For its part, for Malinowski:
“Functionalism is, in essence, the theory of transformation of organic needs, that is, the individual, in derived cultural needs and imperatives.”(Malinowski, 1939).
However, functionalists such as Herbert Spencer and Émile Durkheim had a "biologicist" panorama of society, since they understood society as an "organic all".
On the other hand, Lucy Mair in her book entitled "Introduction to Social Anthropology," appealed the following:
"Functionalism would be inspired by the mathematical idea of function: each social element would depend on the totality, which is identified with a vulgar functionalism" (Mair, 1998).
These statements allow us to understand that functionalism has the main task of describing the functions of customs and institutions, and in the conception of the interests of the social system.
On the other hand, Radcliffe-Brown and Malinowski anthropologists developed the functional-structural theory. Radcliffe-Brown in "structure and function in primitive society", considered that
"Social and cultural structures are independent of individuals and that has an ideological principle of social structuring". (Radcliffe-Brown, 1972)
These authors were the ones who developed the structural-functionalism model, a model that is based on the principle of ‘social organization’.
On the other hand, by historical materialism, Marx and Engels sociologists stand out here, understood as a scientific theory about the formation and development of society, and which intends as an end, to present a method to be able to interpret social conflicts and their transformation.
conclusion
In short, this trial is guided under the premises of the aforementioned authors. They raised under an anthropological perspective that functionalism is nothing more than the task description of the functions of customs and institutions, and that explained the origins of cultural differences and similarities.
Bibliography
- Mair, l. (1998). Introduction to Social Anthropology. Madrid: Alliance
- Malinowski, b. (1939). ‘The Group and the Individual In Functional Analysis’. American Journal of Sociology. Spanish version in Bohannan, Paul and Mark Glazer, 2010. Madrid: McGraw Hill.
- Radcliffe-Brown, a. R. (1972). Structure and function in primitive society. Barcelona: Peninsula Editions
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