1. re Cultural Anthropology
Three Major
Parennial
Debtes
re Cultural Anthropology
Tim Roufs
© 2010

2. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism (“nature” vs. “nurture”)
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism (ideas vs. things)
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

3. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism (“nature” vs. “nurture”)
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism (ideas vs. things)
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

4. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism (“nature vs. nurture”) (“inherited vs. learned”)
(“nativism” vs. “empiricism”)

5. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism (“nature vs. nurture”) (“inherited vs. learned”)
(“nativism” vs. “empiricism”)

8. (“inherited vs. learned”) (“nativism” vs. “empiricism”)
(“nature vs. nurture”)
(“inherited vs. learned”)
(“nativism” vs. “empiricism”)

9. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism (“nature vs. nurture”) (“inherited vs. learned”)
(“nativism” vs. “empiricism”)

10. WORKING
Anth of Food

11. July 19, 2009 11

12. July 19, 2009 12

13. July 19, 2009 13

20. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism (“nature vs. nurture”) (“inherited vs. learned”)
(“nativism” vs. “empiricism”)

22. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism and Cultural Constructionism (“nature and nurture”) (“inherited and learned”)
(“nativism” and “empiricism”)

25. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

26. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

27. Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
e.g., Aztecs must sacrifice and eat humans
in order to please the gods
in order that the gods allow
the sun to rise each day,
so that the world doesn’t end

28. Aztec human sacrifice as shown in the Codex Magliabechiano

29. three major contemporary debates
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)
e.g., Aztecs sacrificed and ate humans
in order to control population size
in order to preserve their property,
to terrorize their neighbors
so they will continue to provide
goods and services as tribute,
and because they tasted good

30. A tzompantli, or skull rack, as shown in the post-Conquest Ramirez Codex.

31. Ideationism Cultural Materialism Example:
Some Neandertals were cannibals,
as were the Aztecs and others . . .
Did they eat people because of something like a religious belief ?
Because they tasted good ?
Ideationism or
Cultural Materialism 31

32. Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Peace
Justice
Security
Freedom
Honor
[God’s will / Allah’s will . . .]
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism 32

33. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)
Peace
Justice
Security
Freedom
Honor
God’s will / Allah’s will . . .

34. Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism 34

35. on building a new natural gas pipeline in Alaska . . .
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism 35

36. “At one point Pastor Fischer equates the preparation she is giving children with the training of terrorists in the Middle East. ‘I want to see young people who are as committed to the cause of Jesus Christ as the young people are to the cause of Islam," she tells the camera. "I want to see them radically laying down their lives for the gospel, as they are over in Pakistan and Israel and Palestine.’" 36

37. Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism 37

38. Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
The Siege of Antioch, from a medieval miniature painting, during the First Crusade. 38

39. Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Saint Joan of Arc Burned at the stake by an ecclesiastical court
For leading the French Armey by divine guidance
During the Hundred Years’ War (1337 to 1453) 39

40. 19 February 2010 40

41. when considering the “whole of history” and the cannons of
More to the point:
when considering the “whole of history”
and the cannons of
critical cultural relativism
actions such as Aztec
human sacrifice and cannibalism,
Yanomamó female infanticide,
and the like
may not make sense to everyone,
but they are more understandable 41

42. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

43. Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism 43

44. “THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)
this debate is related in part to
“THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
— C.P. Snow

45. Food Politics, Revsed Ed. “THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
Marion Nestle
Food Politics, Revsed Ed.
Ch. 10 “Science versus Supplements: ‘A Gulf of Mutual Incomprehension’”
“THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
“belief-based” attitudes
vs.
“science-based” attitudes

46. Food Politics, Revsed Ed.
Marion Nestle
Food Politics, Revsed Ed.
Ch. 10 “Science versus Supplements: ‘A Gulf of Mutual Incomprehension’”
“THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
“belief-based” attitudes
vs.
“science-based” attitudes
University of California Press
2007

47. Food Politics, Revised Ed.
Marion Nestle
Food Politics, Revised Ed.
Ch. 10 “Science versus Supplements: ‘A Gulf of Mutual Incomprehension’”
“THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
“belief-based” attitudes
vs.
“science-based” attitudes
Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp

48. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution: The Rede Lecture.”
C.P. Snow
“Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution: The Rede Lecture.”
London, Cambridge University Press
1959

49. 49

50. Are dietary supplements needed ?

51. Are dietary supplements needed ?

52. Are dietary supplements needed ?
“belief-based” attitudes
vs.
“science-based” attitudes
Safety
Need
Efficacy
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

53. Are dietary supplements needed ? “science-based” attitudes
Safety
Excessive doses of many nutrients are demonstrably toxic
High levels of single nutrients interfere with the functions of other nutrients
The safety of many herbal products is untested and, therefore, unknown
Herbal supplements vary in composition, potency, and quality
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

54. Are dietary supplements needed ? “belief-based” attitudes
Safety
Supplements are safe within a broad range of intake; safety problems are rare
Herbal products have been used for thousands of years
Supplements cause less harm than many prescription drugs
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

55. Are dietary supplements needed ? “science-based” attitudes
Food is sufficient to meet nutritional needs
Foods provide nutrients and other valuable substances not present in supplements
People who take supplements are better educated and wealthier
they are healthier whether or not they take supplements
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

56. Are dietary supplements needed ? “belief-based” attitudes
Diets do not always follow dietary recommendations
Foods grown on depleted soils lack essential nutrients
Pollution and stressful living conditions increase nutrient requirements
Cooking destroys essential nutrients
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

57. Are dietary supplements needed ? “science-based” attitudes
Efficacy
Research demonstrates health benefits of diets and foods, not of single nutrients
Higher-than-recommended doses of few single nutrients improve health
Health claims for many supplements often address issues (such as “stress”) that are difficult to evaluate scientifically
The health benefits of most supplements are unproven
Many “benefits” of supplements can be explained as placebo or other self-healing effects
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

58. Are dietary supplements needed ? “belief-based” attitudes
Efficacy
People who take supplements are healthier
People feel better when they take supplements
Studies demonstrate the health benefits of supplements
Benefits are sometimes greater at amounts higher than can be obtained from food
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

59. after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
“science-
based”
“faith-
based”
Safe No/ Yes
Unknown
Need No Yes
Efficacy No/ Yes
Take No Yes
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

60. 60

61. 61

62. http://www. reverbnation 62

63. What percentage of Americans
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Question:
What percentage of Americans
regularly take
dietary supplements ?
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

64. Why do the science-based “people” take them ?
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Question:
Why do the science-based “people” take them ?
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 232

65. 65

66. 66

67. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution: The Rede Lecture”
C.P. Snow
“Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution: The Rede Lecture”
London, Cambridge University Press
1959

68. Food Politics, Revised Ed. “THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
Marion Nestle
Food Politics, Revised Ed.
Ch. 10 “Science versus Supplements: ‘A Gulf of Mutual Incomprehension’”
“THE ‘TWO-CULTURE’ PROBLEM”
“belief-based” attitudes
vs.
“science-based” attitudes

69. Cultural Materialism Marvin Harris.
The Rise of Anthropological Theory:
A History of Theories of Culture,
Updated Edition.
Lanham, MD: Altamira Press, 2000. 69

70. 70

71. 71

73. Simon & Schuster 2003

74. Eight Food “Revolutions”
Invention of Cooking
Discovery that Food is More Than Sustenance
The “Herding Revolution”
Snail Farming
Use of Food as a Means and Index of Social Differentiation
Long-Range Exchange of Culture
Ecological Revolution of last 500 years
Industrial Revolution of the 19th and 20th Centuries
Simon & Schuster 2003

75. Discovery that Food is More Than Sustenance
Eight Food “Revolutions”
Invention of Cooking
Discovery that Food is More Than Sustenance
The “Herding Revolution”
Snail Farming
Use of Food as a Means and Index of Social Differentiation
Long-Range Exchange of Culture
Ecological Revolution of last 500 years
Industrial Revolution of the 19th and 20th Centuries
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Simon & Schuster 2003

76. The University of Wisconsin Press 1961

77. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

78. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

79. three major contemporary debates
Biological Determinism vs. Cultural Constructionism
Ideationism vs. Cultural Materialism
Individual Agency vs. Structuralism (“free will” vs. “power structures”)

80. (“free will” vs. “power structures”) 80

81. (“free will” vs. “power structures”) 81

82. (“free will” vs. “power structures”) 82

83. Saint Francis Borgia performing an exorcism.
Francisco Goya 83

84. Saint Francis exorcised demons in Arezzo Giotto 84