The Franz Boas enigma : Inuit, Arctic, and sciences

Addressing, for the first time, the enigma of how Franz Boas came to be the central founder of anthropology and a driving force in the acceptance of science as part of societal life in North America, this exploration breaks through the linguistic and cultural barriers that have prevented scholars from grasping the importance of Boas's personal background and academic activities as a German Jew. Müller-Wille argues that to fully appreciate Boas's complete scientific and literary opus and deep emotional and intellectual attachment to the upbringing that shaped his life, it is crucial to become familiar with his publications in German on Inuit and the Arctic as related to environmental, geographical, and ethnological questions, which have remained largely unknown and neglected in North America. These writings represent his emerging scientific interpretations of Inuit culture and the Arctic, and provide insight into the crucial period of Inuit history dominated by European and North American colonial expansion into their homeland more than 130 years ago. With detailed documentation that will be of great use to academics, this book is also written in a lively prose that will prove accessible even to lay readers as they gain a deeper understanding of the eminent cultural anthropologist's academic background and thinking as well as his personal and intellectual life path. How Did Franz Boas Become The Central Founder Of Anthropology And A Driving Force Promoting Science In Public Life In North America? To Answer This Question, Linguistic And Cultural Barriers Must Be Overcome To Grasp The Importance Of Boas's Personal Background And Academic Achievements As A German Jew. Muller-wille Asserts That The Key Is In His Publications In German On Inuit And The Arctic As Related To Environmental, Geographical, And Ethnological Questions. These Writings Have Remained Laregly Unknown And Neglected In The English-speaking World, Yet They Represent His Emerging Scientific Interpretations Of Inuit Culture And The Arctic. They Also Provide Insight Into The Crucial Period Of Inuit History 130 Years Ago At A Time Of European And North American Colonial Expansion Into Their Homeland. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. ... The Elementary Relationship Between Land And People ... Geographical And Ethnological Paradigms -- 2. Early Geographical Studies, 1881-1883: Inuit Occupancy In The Arctic -- 3. Arctic Research And Publicity, 1883-1885: Articles In Germany And The United States -- 4. Life With Inuit And Whalers, 1883-1884: I Am Now Truly Just Like A Typical Eskimo -- 5. Pathways In Geography And Ethnology, 1884-1886: Inuit, Environment, And Beliefs -- 6. The American Period, September 1884 -- March 1885: Searching For Scientific Grounding And Responses -- 7. Return To Germany, March 1885 -- July 1886: Seeking And Testing Academic Pursuits In Geography -- 8. Baffin-land -- Surveys And Inuit Place Names, 1885: Coping With Map Design And Language -- 9. Vagaries Of Arctic Geography, 1886: Landscapes And Human Occupancy -- 10. Getting Settled In The United States, 1886-1888: Ethnological And Geographical Writings -- 11. Inuit Tales And Lexicon, Arctic Ice And Climate, 1887-1894: Assessing Culture, Language, And Nature -- 12. Lasting Contributions By Franz Boas: Knowledge, Science, And Universality Of Equality. Ludger Müller-wille ; Foreword By Rosemary Lévy Zumwalt. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Formats. Front Cover Copyright Table of Contents List of Figures Abbreviations Dedication Foreword Introduction: Franz Boas, Inuit, Arctic, and Sciences 1." ... the elementary relationship between land and people ... ": Geographical and Ethnological Paradigms 2. Early Geographical Studies, 1881-1883: Inuit Occupancy in the Arctic 3. Arctic Research and Publicity, 1883-1885: Articles in Germany and the United States 4. Life with Inuit and Whalers, 1883-1884: ""I am now truly just like a typical Eskimo"" 5. Pathways in Geography and Ethnology, 1884-1886: Inuit, Environment, and Beliefs. 6. The American Period, September 1884 -- March 1885: Searching for Scientific Grounding and Responses7. Return to Germany, March 1885 -- July 1886: Seeking and Testing Academic Pursuits in Geography 8. Baffin-Land -- Surveys and Inuit Place Names, 1885: Coping with Map Design and Language 9. Vagaries of Arctic Geography, 1886: Landscapes and Human Occupancy 10. Getting settled in the United States, 1886-1888: Ethnological and Geographical Writings 11. Inuit Tales and Lexicon, Arctic Iceand Climate, 1887-1894: Assessing Culture, Language, and Nature. 12. Lasting Contributions by Franz Boas: Knowledge, Science, and Universality of EqualityAcknowledgements List of People Bibliography Archival Sources Publications by Franz Boas References Index More from Baraka Books Back Cover.