Our Common Denominator : Human Universals Revisited

Since the politicization of anthropology in the 1970s, most anthropologists have been reluctant to approach the topic of universals'that is, phenomena that occur regularly in all known human societies. In this volume, Christoph Antweiler reasserts the importance of these cross-cultural commonalities for anthropological research and for life and co-existence beyond the academy. The question presented here is how anthropology can help us approach humanity in its entirety, understanding the world less as a globe, with an emphasis on differences, but as a planet, from a vantage point open to commonalities.< Since The Politicization Of Anthropology In The 1970s, Most Anthropologists Have Been Reluctant To Approach The Topic Of Universals - That Is, Phenomena That Occur Regularly In All Known Human Societies. In This Volume, Christoph Antweiler Reasserts The Importance Of These Cross-cultural Commonalities For Anthropological Research And For Life And Co-existence Beyond The Academy. The Question Presented Here Is How Anthropology Can Help Us Approach Humanity In Its Entirety, Understanding The World Less As A Globe, With An Emphasis On Difference, But As A Planet, From A Vantage Point Open To Commonalities. -- From Back Cover. Humankind: Current Societal Debates -- A World Of Cultures: Their Differences And Likenesses -- Cultures And Human Nature: Human Beings Are Biologically Cultural -- Universals: Examples From Several Realms -- Methods: Deduction, Case Studies, And Comparison -- Taxonomy: The Forms, Levels, And Depth Of Universals -- Toward Explanation: Why Do Universals Exist? -- Critical Positions: Arguments Against Universalism -- Synthesis: Human Universals And The Human Sciences. Christoph Antweiler ; Translated By Diane Kerns. Translated From The German. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 265-337) And Index. Contents List of Figures List of Tables Preface Introduction Chapter 1 Humankind: Current Societal Debates Chapter 2 A World of Cultures: Their Differences and Likenesses Chapter 3 Cultures and Human Nature: Human Beings Are Biologically Cultural Chapter 4 Universals: Examples from Several Realms Chapter 5 Methods: Deduction, Case Studies, and Comparison Chapter 6 Taxonomy: The Forms, Levels, and Depth of Universals Chapter 7 Toward Explanation: Why Do Universals Exist? Chapter 8 Critical Positions: Arguments against Universalism Chapter 9 Synthesis: Human Universals and Human Sciences Bibliography Index Against the backdrop of a discipline focused on difference, Christoph Antweiler reasserts the importance of cross-cultural commonalities -- phenomena that occur regularly in all known human societies -- for anthropological research and for life and co-existence beyond the academy.