Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed

Question

Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed in reaction to, 19th century  "ethnology" , which involves the organized comparison of human societies. Scholars like E.B. Taylor and J.G. Frazer in England worked mostly with materials collected by others – usually missionaries, traders, explorers, or colonial officials. This practice earned them their current sobriquet of "arm-chair anthropologists".

Ethnologists share a special interest in why people living in different parts of the world often had similar beliefs and practices. In addressing this question, ethnologists in the 19th century divided into two schools of thought. Some, like Grafton Elliot Smith, argued that different groups must somehow have learned from one another, however indirectly; in other words, they argued that cultural traits must have spread from one place to another, or "diffused".

Other ethnologists argued that different groups had the capability of inventing similar beliefs and practices independently. Some of those who advocated "independent invention", like Lewis Henry Morgan, additionally supposed that similarities meant that different groups had passed through the same stages of cultural evolution. Morgan, like other 19th century social evolutionists, believed there was a more or less orderly progression from the primitive to the civilized.

20th century anthropologists largely reject the notion that all human societies must pass through the same stages in the same order, on the grounds that such a notion does not fit the empirical facts. Some ethnologists from this group, like Julian Steward, have instead argued that such similarities reflected similar adaptations to similar environments. Others, such as Claude Lévi-Strauss have argued that apparent patterns of development reflect fundamental similarities in the structure of human thought - called structuralism. By the mid-20th century, the examples of people skipping stages, such as going from hunter-gatherers to post-industrial service occupations in one generation, were so numerous that 19th century social evolutionism was effectively disproved.   1 
 1. Which of the following observations, if true, would help validate the theory of structuralism?

A. Two indigenous groups, from separate and isolated polar latitudes, developed similar customs in coping with the cold climate.
B. Many of the customs of a South Pacific island culture are linked to the mainland cultures 3000 miles away; it is believed that some contact from primitive raft journeys took place between the cultures.
C. Two ancient cultures with no interaction and vastly different climates were found by archaeologists to have developed strangely similar customs and innovations.
D. Many of the modern astronomical and mathematical systems used today have been adapted from techniques developed by the Maya over 4,000 years ago.
E. Many important intellectual advances in human history, such as the development of calculus and evolutionary theory, took place independently of one another.

2 
 2. The primary purpose of this passage is to:

A. show that the basic tenets of 19th century social evolutionism are false
B. discuss two conflicting views of 19th century ethnologists
C. explain the theories of modern cultural anthropology
D. provide a historical perspective on 19th century ethnology
E. argue that 20th century perspectives on ethnology are superior to 19th century perspectives.

3 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that “ethnology” ( Highlighted ) is :
 
A. different from cultural anthropology
B. a branch of anthropology
C. synonymous with social evolution
D. a separate field of study from anthropology
E. similar to “structuralism”

coldbrew · Accepted Answer

Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed in reaction to, 19th century "ethnology", which involves the organized comparison of human societies.

^ This is suggests that Anthropology is related to ethnology. But note that it in the first three paragraphs only 19th century studies are discussed. It isn't until the final paragraph that we see the below:

20th century anthropologists  largely reject the notion that all human societies must pass through the same stages in the same order, on the grounds that such a notion does not fit the empirical facts.  Some ethnologists from this group , like Julian Steward, have instead argued that such similarities reflected similar adaptations to similar environments.

^ "Some ethnologists from this group" definitely suggests that ethnology is a subset of anthropology. As if it was not until the 20th century that anthropology was listed as a "parent" of ethnology.

AkshdeepS · Answer

Question 3:

Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed in reaction to, 19th century "ethnology".

Does it mean ethnology is a branch of anthropology? Or Does it mean anthropology is a branch of ethnology?

I can not find any text from which I can infer the first case. And if bold sentence is the only reference than second case looks better.

But answer choice says it is case 1.

If it is given that A is a part of B, can we infer B is also a part of A?

rish2708 · Answer

I got 2 correct:
Q1 and Q3.

Hello Experts  GMATNinja  Sir,  VeritasKarishma  Ma'am,

Regarding Q2: How can the historical perspective be an answer?
The structure of passage is:
P1: Modern Anthropology is described and its derivation is stated 
P2: Ethnology is discussed and one school of thought is detailed
P3: Second thought of Ethnology is detailed ( passed through similar phase of transformation)
P4: Disagreement among anthropologists for similar phase of transformation and further evidences.

All in all passage seems to describe the evolution of anthropology and it's theories.
I weigh C over D.
Can you please help me explain how D beats C ?

Regards,
Rishav

KarishmaB · Answer

Rishav,

You are missing the common link in all of these: 19th century ethnology

Para 1: Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in 19th century "ethnology".
Para 2: A field of special interest of ethnology is discussed and a 19th century school of thought is shared.
Para 3: The other 19th century school of thought of ethnology is shared.
Para 4: 20th century anthropologists rejected 19th century ideas because of conflicting empirical facts.

All of this is in the past 19th century (1800s) and 20th century (1900s).

The passage is all about a historical perspective of 19th century ethnology.
Answer (D)

As for C- explain the theories of modern cultural anthropology,
we don't know the theories of modern cultural anthropology. The passage just says that modern cultural anthropology has its roots in 19th century ethnology. After that it discusses 19th century ethnology only.

akshat1617 · Answer

VeritasKarishma  why is option A wrong for Q2?

KarishmaB · Answer

The primary purpose of a passage is the reason an author writes a passage. If the author had written this passage to "show that the basic tenets of 19th century social evolutionism are false", one paragraph would have discussed the 19th century social evolutionism and rest of the paragraphs would have showed why it is false. Reason 1 why they make no sense... Reason 2 why they make no sense... etc. But that is not the author's intent.

Para 1: Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in 19th century "ethnology".
Para 2: A field of special interest of ethnology is discussed and a 19th century school of thought is shared.
Para 3: The other 19th century school of thought of ethnology is shared.
Para 4: 20th century anthropologists rejected 19th century ideas because of conflicting empirical facts.

The historical perspective (19th and 20th century) of ethnology is given.

ayushgmatclub1 · Answer

VeritasKarishma  can you please explain Q1 in detail and how to eliminate incorrect options? Thanks in advance!

KarishmaB · Answer

ayushgmatclub1

Referring to the passage, 3rd paragraph:

"Others, such as Claude Lévi-Strauss have argued that apparent patterns of development reflect fundamental similarities in the structure of human thought - called structuralism."

So structuralism is the fundamental similarity in the structure of human thought.

So people not in contact with each other and in different environments may have similar thoughts.

A- Two indigenous groups, from separate and isolated polar latitudes, developed similar customs in coping with the cold climate.

This says that the environment might make them establish similar habits. Incorrect.

B- Many of the customs of a South Pacific island culture are linked to the mainland cultures 3000 miles away; it is believed that some contact from primitive raft journeys took place between the cultures.

This indicates "diffusion" that the passage talks about.

C- Two ancient cultures with no interaction and vastly different climates were found by archaeologists to have developed strangely similar customs and innovations.

Correct. No contact, no similarity in environment and still similar thoughts. Points to structuralism.

D- Many of the modern astronomical and mathematical systems used today have been adapted from techniques developed by the Maya over 4,000 years ago.

Influence from previous generations. Incorrect.

E- Many important intellectual advances in human history, such as the development of calculus and evolutionary theory, took place independently of one another.

Different theories evolving independently. Incorrect.

Answer (C)

VerbalBot · Answer

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Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed

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Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed

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