Aims of social anthropology
Pointing out the aim of scientific study Ralph Piddington has proclaimed, “The aim of any science is to study a specified part of the real world and from a study of facts to formulate theories which shall serve as recipes for human conduct, whether that conduct be the carrying out of further research or the taking of practical steps for the promotion of human welfare.” Based upon these criteria, Piddington has admitted two aims of social anthropology.
The primary aim of social anthropology is to gather information about human nature. Human nature is a controversial subject. Different scholars have laid emphasis upon different aspects of human nature.
The primitive man and society present human nature in its most rudimentary and raw form. Therefore their study is useful for the understanding of the basic essentials of human nature without much influence of culture upon them.
Another aim of social anthropology is the study of the processes and results of cultural contacts. Most of the primitive societies are gradually coming in contact of more developed cultures. This contact is gradually creating social, religious, economic and political problems and disorganization.
The administrators and the social planners require the help of social anthropologists in the understanding of processes and consequences of cultural contacts. According to the Royal Anthropological Society of Great Britain and Ireland the most important aims of social anthropology are the following:
1. The study of primitive culture in its present form.
2. The study of cultural contact and specific processes.
This includes exploration of the influences of outer groups creating cultural changes.
3. Reconstruction of social history.
4. Search for universally valid social laws.
Thus the chief aim of social anthropology is to study human society, social institutions, culture, and kinship bonds in their most elementary form. Besides being useful for the understanding of present day human societies, it aids to our knowledge of human history as well as the nature of social institutions. It is hence that social anthropology is closely related to history and archeology.
The above aims of social anthropology are particularly evident in the utilization of functional method in its study. According to Malinowsky, in the functional method we try to discover those human needs which maintain his bio-psychic existence and finally his higher intellectual survival.
The functional method also helps us in finding out ways and means for the fulfilments of these needs. As Radclinffe Brown has aptly pointed out, culture is an integrated system. It serves certain functions with reference to human societies.
The functional method aims at the discovery of the general principles required for the explanation of a cultured phenomenon. It is clear that the discovery of the functions of social institutions, needs and culture, etc., in primitive societies will provide a solid foundation for the understanding of developed societies and culture. For example, it has been discovered that culture is a means or tool to simplify fulfilment of human needs, to give us knowledge of ends and means, to develop social institutions, etc.
It has been discovered that components of culture act separately as well as together. All this has been useful in the understanding of present day societies. They will protect them and keep them free from disease. In the political fields also the administration is mostly in the hands of the females.
This, however, does not mean that the status of males is pitiable in any sense. On the other hand, they are respected and their desires are fulfilled. Divorce requires mutual consent and both are free in their personal affairs.
Another tribe in Assam, which is matriarchal, is Garo. In this tribe the descent is traced from the mother. Ancestors are females and goddesses are worshipped. Daughter succeeds to the property. The husband may use the property of the wife but in succession it is given to the daughter. Polygyny is prevalent.
There is no custom of bride price. Widows are not allowed to remarry. They are however, given freedom in sexual matters. While the male is given death punishment for adultary, the women are given less punishment at least in several chances.
The description of the status of females in the matriarchal societies as given above is precisely reversed in patriarchal societies, the examples of which can be seen in almost all the civilized societies. Patriarchal societies have patriarchal families. After marriage the woman has to reside in the house of her husband. The
husband is head of the family and enjoys higher status in every way. The property and wealth succeed from the father to the son. Myths and beliefs are prevalent derogatory to the status of woman. For example, in Toda tribe the women are considered impure due to the processes connected with menstruation and child birth, etc., resulting in the imposition of social and economic disabilities.
This, however, does not mean that the status of woman in patriarchal society is invariably low. For example, one may find henpecked husbands in Toda tribe as in any other primitive society.