what is anthropology?

Answer 1

The study of us humans!

Answer 2

The short answer, the literal translation of the Greek is that it's the study of people.
The long answer, it's an extremely broad field of social science, one that is often characterised by detailed observational studies, and with researchers who are more likely to acknowledge their personal biases, unlike the more rigid experimental structure typical of social psychologists. There's also usually a more sympathetic attitude towards research subjects, an emphasis on cultural relativism and acknowledging differences.
Anthropology is usually sub-divided into 3 or sometimes 4 fields - archaeology, biological or physical anthropology, social or cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology (the last two are often lumped together).
Archaeologists typically deal with artefacts and the material culture of the past. Bio-physical anthropology can deal with the physical characteristics of living and dead peoples, their adaptations to the environment, responses to disease, evolutionary processes. Socio-cultural anthropologists generally deal with living peoples, studying culture, communication, customs and linguistic anthropologists specialise in languages.
These are very bare thumbnail sketches, and there is frequently an ENORMOUS amount of overlap between the subfields.

The reason I personally love anthropology is because it's so broad, varied and flexible, and if anything I might amend your question to ask what *isn't* anthropology.

Answer 3

Anthropology (from the Greek word ἄνθρωπος, "human" or "person") consists of the study of humanity. It is holistic in two senses: it is concerned with all humans at all times and with all dimensions of humanity. In principle, it is concerned with all institutions of all societies, but in practice anthropologists have tended to concentrate on the seemingly more "traditional" institutions, usages, and customs of non-Western, often tribal, societies.

Anthropology is distinguished from other social-science disciplines by its emphasis on cultural relativity, in-depth examination of context, and cross-cultural comparisons. Some anthropologists have utilized anthropological knowledge to frame cultural critiques. This has been particularly prominent in America, from the popular attacks on Victorianism of Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict through contemporary attacks on post-colonialism under the heading of postmodernism.

Anthropology is methodologically diverse using both qualitative methods and quantitative methods. Ethnographies--intensive case studies based on field research-- have historically had a central place in the literature of the discipline.

Anthropology, if you may ask is classified into 2 divisions

1) Physical or Biological anthropology
2) Cultural and Social Anthropology

Under Physical or Biological Anthropology

1. Early Theories of Evolution
2. Basic Principles of Genetics
3. Biological Basis of Heredity
4. Human Chromosomal Abnormalities
5. Synthetic Theory of Evolution
6. Human Blood
7. Modern Human Variation
8. Human Biological Adaptability
9. Classification of Living Things
10. Primates
11. Primate Behavior
12. Record of Time
13. Early Primate Evolution
14. Early Hominid Evolution
15. Early Human Evolution
16. Evolution of Modern Humans

Under Cultural and Social Antropology

1. Human Culture
2. Language and Culture
3. Patterns of Subsistence
4. Economic Systems
5. Social Organization
6. Kinship 14. Culture Change
7. Sex and Marriage
8. Process of Socialization
9. Ethnicity and Race
10. Political Organization
11. Social Control
12. Anthropology of Religion
13. Medical Anthropology

I don't have to write all the explanation here, you may study it in your own pace.

Answer 4

Anthropology is the study of humanity - our physical characteristics as animals, and our unique non-biological characteristics we call culture. The subject is generally broken down into three sub-disciplines: biological (physical) anthropology, cultural (social) anthropology, and archaeology. It is considered as a science.

Answer 5

Anthropology is the study of human beings.

Anthropologie is a clothing store.

Answer 6

There are a lot of long answers. The shortest answer is they study what it MEANS to be human. All divisions of anthropology strive for that same understanding.

Answer 7

Anthropology is the study of people,their behaviors,characteristics,practices,customs;study of humanity and the humans' reactions and ability to surpass the human conditions.

Answer 8

anthropology is the study of humans it has four subfields like -archaeology,study of human remains
linguistics the study of human language,
cultural anthrpology, study of human culture
physical anthropology, focuses on humans as biological organisms es human evolution

Answer 9

Anthropos = people, human
logy = science, study

So anthropology is study of human beings, theor culture and ancestors.

Answer 10

Its greek meaning anthrops "Man" logos "discourse" the study of human kind. It investigates the cultural, social and physical diversity of the human species, both past and present. A uniquely western social science.