The Making of British Anthropology, 1813–1871

Sera-Shriar, Efram

doi:10.4324/9781315654706

Cited by 38 publications

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“…Leopold (1980) and Sera-Shriar (2013). 36 Lubbock (1882) Particularly important for Dawkins were artworks.…”

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confidence: 99%

The problematic construction of ‘Palaeolithic Man’: The Old Stone Age and the difficulties of the comparative method, 1859–1914

Manias

2015

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in

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The growth of a prehistoric timescale was one of the most dramatic developments in nineteenth-century ideas of humanity, massively extending the assumed course of human development and placing it within the deep chronologies of geological time. A dominant motif linking anthropology and prehistory was the 'comparative method' -the idea that modern 'savages' were analogous to prehistoric Europeans, most dramatically proposed in the many editions of John Lubbock's Pre-Historic Times, but also found across a host of other works. The importance of this mode of reasoning has been well-studied, and shown to have had great significance for concepts of progress and social evolution. What has been less investigated is what happened when the comparative method broke down, and 'modern savages' and 'prehistoric man' seemed to be dissimilar, and the analogies either broke down, or were hard to reconcile. This paper examines how a series of authors engaged with these problems as they attempted to historicize human development in the deep prehistoric past. In doing so, it will highlight what was seen as unique about European prehistory, and the development of anthropological methods and concepts.2/31

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“…Leopold (1980) and Sera-Shriar (2013). 36 Lubbock (1882) Particularly important for Dawkins were artworks.…”

Section: /31mentioning

confidence: 99%

The problematic construction of ‘Palaeolithic Man’: The Old Stone Age and the difficulties of the comparative method, 1859–1914

Manias

2015

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in

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“…In recent years, historian of anthropology Efram Sera‐Shriar challenged the views of fellow historians, such as George Stocking Junior, regarding the armchair theorists of nineteenth century Britain (Sera‐Shriar ). Sera‐Shriar contended that armchair theorists such as John Lubbock, Edward Tylor, Robert Latham, James Hunt and James Cowles Prichard, actively directed those seeking ethnological observations in the colonies through queries.…”

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“…Sera‐Shriar contended that armchair theorists such as John Lubbock, Edward Tylor, Robert Latham, James Hunt and James Cowles Prichard, actively directed those seeking ethnological observations in the colonies through queries. Sera‐Shriar argued that metropolitan armchair theorists intellectually guided colonial collectors through queries, showing them what to look for, write about and what samples, specimens and evidence to send back to Britain (Sera‐Shriar ). Queries had been around for centuries.…”

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“…Constraints such as finances and employment prevented many armchair theorists from travelling themselves, leaving them reliant on colonists’, missionaries’ and others’ observations. Sera‐Shriar argued for reconsideration of the intellectual rigour of armchair theorists and recognition of their role in guiding and directing collectors at colonial sites through methods such as queries (Sera‐Shriar ).…”

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From the Paddock to the Page: Squatter Peter Beveridge's Ethnological Writing about the Wadi Wadi in Colonial Victoria

Lourie

2016

Oceania

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This article examines the ethnological writing about the Wadi Wadi people undertaken by squatter Peter Beveridge in the 1850s and 1860s. In the north of the colony of Victoria, both Beveridge and the Wadi Wadi laid claim to the land upon which they lived. In this ambiguous space, lengthy and close relationships developed between Beveridge and Wadi Wadi people with information and experiences shared. Valuing the knowledge of Wadi Wadi people, Beveridge was able to adapt and challenge aspects of the British ethnological ideas through which he framed his analysis of Wadi Wadi life. The article explores specifically Beveridge's response to the 1841 Queries Respecting the Human Race. It appears that Beveridge purposefully ignored the questions on Physical Characters and recognised spiritual belief as an integral part of Wadi Wadi daily life.

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“…This article seeks to answer the question: What is armchair anthropology? The history of British anthropological practices is one of gradual change and of the adoption of new observational techniques into its methodologies (Sera-Shriar, 2013: 1–20). By looking at the full range of observational methods utilized by 19 th -century armchair practitioners, historians and social scientists can broaden their understanding of the discipline’s past.…”

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What is armchair anthropology? Observational practices in 19^th-century British human sciences

Sera-Shriar

2013

History of the Human Sciences

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The study of human diversity in the first half of the 19th century has traditionally been categorized as a type of armchair-based natural history. If we are to take seriously this characterization of the discipline it requires further unpacking. Armchair anthropology was not a passive pursuit, with minimal analytical reflection that simply synthesized the materials of other writers. Nor was it detached from the activities of informants who were collecting and recording data in the field. Practitioners in the 19th century were highly attuned to the problems associated with their research techniques and continually sought to transform their methodologies. The history of British anthropological research is one of gradual change and the adoption of new observational techniques into its methodologies. This article looks at the history of 19th-century British anthropology and examines in detail the observational practices of its researchers. In doing so it aims to answer the question: What is armchair anthropology?

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The Making of British Anthropology, 1813–1871

Cited by 38 publications

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The problematic construction of ‘Palaeolithic Man’: The Old Stone Age and the difficulties of the comparative method, 1859–1914

The problematic construction of ‘Palaeolithic Man’: The Old Stone Age and the difficulties of the comparative method, 1859–1914

From the Paddock to the Page: Squatter Peter Beveridge's Ethnological Writing about the Wadi Wadi in Colonial Victoria

What is armchair anthropology? Observational practices in 19^th-century British human sciences

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The Making of British Anthropology, 1813–1871

Cited by 38 publications

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The problematic construction of ‘Palaeolithic Man’: The Old Stone Age and the difficulties of the comparative method, 1859–1914

The problematic construction of ‘Palaeolithic Man’: The Old Stone Age and the difficulties of the comparative method, 1859–1914

From the Paddock to the Page: Squatter Peter Beveridge's Ethnological Writing about the Wadi Wadi in Colonial Victoria

What is armchair anthropology? Observational practices in 19th-century British human sciences

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What is armchair anthropology? Observational practices in 19^th-century British human sciences