Saturday, December 28, 2019

Settling the Debate Is Anthropology a Science

Is anthropology a science or one of the humanities? Thats a long-running debate in anthropological circles with a complex answer. Thats in part because anthropology is a large umbrella term covering four major subdisciplines (cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics); and because science is a loaded term that can be interpreted as exclusionary. A study is not science unless you are trying to resolve a testable hypothesis, or so it has been defined.   Key Takeaways: Is Anthropology a Science? Anthropology is a large umbrella term including four fields: linguistics, archaeology, physical anthropology, and cultural anthropology.Modern research methods more commonly include testable hypotheses than they do in the past.All forms of the discipline continue to include aspects of non-testable investigations.Anthropology today stands at the conjunction of science and the humanities. Why the Debate Arose In 2010, the debate in anthropology bled out to the world (reported in both Gawker and The New York Times) in general because of a word change in the purpose statement of the long-range plans of the leading anthropological society in the United States, the American Anthropological Association.   In 2009, the statement read in part:   The purposes of the Association shall be to advance anthropology as the science that studies humankind in all its aspects. (AAA Long-Range Plan, Feb 13, 2009) In 2010 the sentence was changed in part to:   The purposes of the Association shall be to advance public understanding of humankind in all its aspects. (AAA Long-Range Plan, Dec 10, 2010) and the officers of the AAA commented that they altered the wording to address the changing composition of the profession and the needs of the AAA membership... replacing the word science with a more specific (and inclusive) list of research domains. Partly because of the media attention, the membership responded to the changes, and, by the end of 2011, the AAA had put back the word science and added the following verbiage which still stands in their current long-range plans statement: The strength of Anthropology lies in its distinctive position at the nexus of the sciences and humanities, its global perspective, its attention to the past and the present, and its commitment to both research and practice. (AAA Long-Range Plan, Oct 14, 2011) Defining Science and Humanity In 2010, the debate in anthropology was just the most visible of a cultural divide among scholars in pedagogy, a seemingly sharp and impassible split that existed between the humanities and science.   Traditionally, the main difference is that humanities, or so says the Oxford English Dictionary, are based on the interpretation of texts and artifacts, rather than experimental or quantitative methods. By contrast, sciences deal with demonstrated truths which are systematically classified and follow general laws, found by the scientific method and incorporating falsifiable hypotheses.  Modern methods of research today often do both, bringing analytical methods into what was once purely humanities; and human behavioral aspects into what was once purely science. A Hierarchy of Sciences French philosopher and science historian Auguste Comte (1798–1857) started down this path by  suggesting that the different scientific disciplines could be sorted out systematically in a Hierarchy of Science (HoS) in terms of their complexity and generality of their subject of study. Comte ranked sciences in descending order of complexity as measured on different levels of empiricism.   celestial physics (such as astronomy)terrestrial physics (physics and chemistry)  organic physics (biology)social physics (sociology)   Twenty-first-century researchers seem to agree that there is at least an understood hierarchy of science, that scientific research falls into three broad categories:   Physical science  Biological scienceSocial science These categories are based on the perceived hardness of the research–the extent to which research questions are based on data and theories as opposed to non-cognitive factors. Finding Todays Hierarchy of Science Several scholars have tried to find out how those categories are separated and whether there is any definition of science that excludes, say, the study of history, from being a science.   Thats funny–in both the peculiar and humorous sense–because no matter how empirical a study into such categories is, the results can only be based on human opinions. In other words, theres no hard-wired hierarchy of science, no underlying mathematical rule that sorts scholarly fields into buckets that arent culturally derived.   Statistician Daniele Fanelli gave it a shot in 2010, when he studied a large sample of published research in the three HoS categories, looking for papers that declared they had tested a hypothesis and reported a positive result. His theory was that the probability of a paper to report a positive result–that is to say, to prove a hypothesis was true–depends on   Whether the tested hypothesis is true or false;The logical/methodological rigor with which it is linked to empirical predictions and tested; and  The statistical power to detect the predicted pattern. What he found was that fields that fall into the perceived social science bucket indeed were statistically more likely to find a positive result: BUT it a matter of degree, rather than a clearly defined cut-off point.   Is Anthropology a Science? In todays world, research fields–certainly anthropology and likely other fields as well–are so cross-disciplinary, so nuanced and so interwoven as to be resistant to breaking down into neat categories. Each form of anthropology can be defined as a science or a humanity: linguistics that of language and its structure; cultural anthropology as that of human society and culture and its development; physical anthropology as that of humans as a biological species; and archaeology as the remains and monuments of the past. All of these fields cross over and discuss cultural aspects that may be unprovable hypotheses: the questions addressed include how do humans use language and artifacts, how do humans adapt to climate and evolutionary changes. The inescapable conclusion is that anthropology as a research field, perhaps just as acutely as any other field, stands at the intersection of the humanities and science. Sometimes its one, sometimes the other, sometimes, and maybe at the best of times, its both. If a label stops you from doing research, dont use it. Sources and Further Reading Douthwaite, Boru, et al. Blending â€Å"Hard† and â€Å"Soft† Science the â€Å"Follow-the-Technology† Approach to Catalyzing and Evaluating Technology Change. Conservation Ecology 5.2 (2002). Print.Fanelli, Daniele. Positive Results Increase Down the Hierarchy of the Sciences. PLOS ONE 5.4 (2010): e10068. Print.Franklin, Sarah. Science as Culture, Cultures of Science. Annual Review of Anthropology 24.1 (1995): 163–84. Print.Hedges, Larry V. How Hard Is Hard Science, How Soft Is Soft Science? The Empirical Cumulativeness of Research. American Psychologist 42.5 (1987): 443–55. Print.Prins, Ad A.M., et al. Using Google Scholar in Research Evaluation of Humanities and Social Science Programs: A Comparison with Web of Science Data. Research Evaluation 25.3 (2016): 264–70. Print.Stenseke, Marie, and Anne Larigauderie. The Role, Importance, and Challenges of Social Sciences and Humanities in the Work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research 31.sup1 (2018): S10–S14. Print.Storer, N. W. The Hard Sciences and the Soft: Some Sociological Observations. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 55.1 (1967): 75–84. Print.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Silencing the Noise by Moerman Essay Example

Essays on Silencing the Noise by Moerman Essay The paper "Silencing the Noise by Moerman" is a delightful example of an essay on finance and accounting. The failure to have internationally standardized accounting standards has allowed many organizations to exploit the accounting malleability loopholes, to avoid their legal and financial obligations related to asbestos manufacturing (Moerman and van der Laan, 2). Accounting inadequacies for the long-tail liabilities arising from the toxic asbestos operations have been found to have been noted in the USA, the UK and now in Australia, sending a message that there is still an increased danger of toxic exposure that needs to be addressed. The fact that asbestos gradually causes intoxication in the human body and can thus take several decades before the intoxication finally resurfaces has given the multinational organizations an opportunity to engage in manufacturing opportunities that uses asbestos, and then avoid the legal liability that comes with it (Moerman and van der Laan, 7). I nter-jurisdictional transfers of corporate entities has made it possible for such corporate entities to avoid their responsibilities in the past asbestos exposure claims, while at the same time allowing for tax inefficiencies through the repatriation of profits made in one jurisdiction to another jurisdiction where the corporate entity is newly re-established (Moerman and van der Laan, 3). It is this practice that has made accounting for the asbestos long-tail liability claims very complex.ViewpointAccounting for asbestos legal claims is complex, owing to the fact that the resurfacing of the asbestos side effects takes long, for example, a few decades, making it very hard for the organizations responsible to pay for such liability claims. This is because, the organizations are reorganizing and changing jurisdictions of their initial incorporation, such that the future claims that resurface will not be associated with such organizations. In this respect, there is a need to harmonize the inter-jurisdictional taxation and incorporation systems for organizations, so that such organizations cannot be able to change their jurisdictions of incorporation easily. This will make it difficult for such organizations to avoid their long-tail liabilities.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

A Fairy Tale Essay Example For Students

A Fairy Tale Essay He knew that his first prey, the firebird, lived high up in the trees in the heart of the forest. Like lightening, they were hard to miss, and the piercing of its beak left a burn that could never be forgotten. Suddenly, the boy heard a shriek, and he whirled his head to see the blood-red bird swooping toward his face. Panicking, the boy lunged for the ground, and for the net that the wise man had given him. He hurled it at the bird and missed. The bird, angry, made another giant swoop at the boy and tore its flesh as it flew straight into the blade of the boys sword. That was one creature taken care of. His next target, the freezing spider, could be either much harder, or much easier, the boy knew not which. The spider could not run, or jump, unlike some of its relatives, but it was harder to find, and its poison froze the human blood and made its victims helpless, lying on the ground shivering until the arachnid finally took pity on his prey and ate it. He tried not to think abou t it.Instead the boy thought of ways to attract his prey; if he could get it to come to him, the killing would be easier and definitely much safer. The freezing spider would eat any kind of flesh it could, but it was well known that the spider loved most to eat the flesh of humans. Well, what should he do? Obviously bait was safer than waiting for an attack, so the boy pulled out his dagger and held it to his upper arm. That was when he saw the grey bristles of the freezing spider. It was sitting quietly on a nearby shrub, its back toward the boy. Holding back a sigh of relief, he took one quiet step toward his prey, holding the dagger high, and stabbed it through the spider before it knew what hit it. A little less active a kill than the firebird, but just as exhilarating. Now the only victim left in this task of the boys was the netherworld wolf, and what a creature. About the size of a pig, these dogs could tear up a man in two minutes flat, or so it was said. However, being the largest of the creatures made it the easiest target. All that the boy had to do was look. He took out his crossbow (he figured it was the weapon least likely to let the wolf draw blood), and moved on in search of the wolfs lair. This search took longer than the first two. The boy wandered for two days and two nights with nothing to show for his efforts. On the third night, he finally let himself sleep. As he stretched himself out on the cold ground, he felt himself drift into mysterious dreams. They didnt matter when he felt the pain. The boy awoke to find himself surrounded by a pack of netherworld wolves; they obviously had not officially started an attack, but one had definitely bitten into him to see how he tasted. The boy grabbed his crossbow from his side and fired wildly into space. This startled the wolves, but only made them more angry.However, in the half-second the wolves had spent watching the arrow, the boy had had time to aim, and shot a wolf in the heart. The others, now fearing for their lives, ran back to their lair, not to bother the boy again. He smiled. The first of his tasks was done, and hed come out of it in quite good condition. A bite in his side, but some water would take care of that. After about a quarter hour of walking, the boy reached a stream that he had found earlier in his journey. It was the one pure element of the forest, and it was how he had gotten water and food (he had eaten the leafy plants that grew along the side of it). The boy kneeled now and scooped up some of the cold, crystal fluid to clean his wound. He looked down to his left side to see a piece of paper sticking out of the mud. Strange, he thought. He picked it up. It was a map, like one that a pirate would have drawn. But how could a pirates map have gotten into the Forest of Mirth? The boy was thinking about this when something on the paper caught his eye. The cup of Alfred the Great! It was written right below the giant X at the bottom of the page! The boy stopped thinking of the maps origin and concentrated on what was written on the old, browned paper. Obviously the map showed the area he was in, because it had the forest and the nearby village on it. It was somewhere in between, right near the outskirts of the town that the X was drawn. Simple enough, said the boy to himself. I will follow the map until I find the cup. It shouldnt take me too long.and with that the boy was off. He walked for two days until he came to the edge of the forest. It was night then, and the boy looked at the stars. He found the North Star almost straight in front of him, as if beckoning him forward. The boy followed, all the while thankful that his father had taught him his directional skills when he was young. The map said to go two hundred paces North until he reached a giant rock, shaped like a skull. Two hundred and twenty-seven paces later, the boy found it. Wrapped around the rock was a giant snake. The boy had been warned about the snakes outside the Forest of Mirth. They had a great gift for persuasion, and when that didnt work, they could hypnotise a mortal into doing their bidding without question. Young one, he hissed, Come hither. The boy stared at the snake, but he would n ot move. You want the treasure, do you not, young one? asked the serpent in a tempting voice. Come hither and I will tell you a secret about this treasure. The boy finally spoke. You are too kind, good snake, but I know what it is I am looking for, and frankly, though I hope you do not take offense, I do not wish to know anything more. Who cannot want to know the secrets of the serpent? hissed the snake. I know all and am powerful. All you need to do is come hither so that I can tell you what it takes to be like me. It lies in that treasure.Once again, good snake, I say I do not wish to know more about this treasure. Thank you, but I will continue with my task now. Please leave me alone. and with that, the boy started to dig through the earth, hoping that the snake would be quiet. It was not to be so. On Becoming an OBGYN (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) EssayYoure welcome. the boy replied. Now, I must be on my way. I must go back to the wise man so that he will fulfill my wish. And with that, the boy was on his way back home.The old man looked up from his books. Young one, he said, you are home quickly.My task is complete master. said the boy. Please fulfill my wish. The old man smiled. Go home young one, your wish has been granted.The boy hurried home to find his mother waiting for him at the door. Son, she said Im afraid I have news that may disturb you. Your new father died yesterday, very suddenly. No one knows quite how it happened. It was almost as if magic had occurred. The boy suppressed a smile, for he knew his mother hadnt accepted the thought of being alone. The point was though, that she wasnt. The boy turned to his mother and said Mother, I know you are unhappy because two men that you cared about have died, but I hope that you remember that you will always have me and that I love you very much.Tears welled up in the mothers eyes. Oh son, she said I love you too. and the two embraced and went back into their house to live happily ever after. Words/ Pages : 2,361 / 24

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The Glass Menagerie And The Conflict Between free essay sample

The Glass Menagerie And The Conflict Between Happines And Responsibility Essay, Research Paper An single # 8217 ; s right to be happy and its struggle with an single # 8217 ; s duties is a common personal job. Many people must do the pick between the two daily. Most people have a set sentiment of whether duty or felicity should predominate. Sometimes people have exclusions to this sentiment. Some people would judge Tom, in The # 8220 ; Glass Menagerie, # 8221 ; as being right or incorrect in his determination to take felicity and leave duty. I believe that people have a right to be happy, and that people need duty. There may be a happy medium, but if there is, no 1 I know has found it. Normally the best manner to be is happy. If a individual is taking duty over felicity, they are, of class, unhappy. When people are unhappy, they tend to go dissatisfied and unpleasant. It begins a concatenation consequence. We will write a custom essay sample on The Glass Menagerie And The Conflict Between or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Other people become unhappy and do your life Plutos. Besides, when people are unhappy due to duty, they become slack. Peoples at McDonald # 8217 ; s begin to ptyalize on french friess, that kind of thing. Cipher wants anyone else to go that lax in their duties. There are exclusions when it comes to people taking felicity over respon sibility. If a individual has ever, and will ever detest their occupation or their school, something of that kind, so by all agencies, that individual should travel where they would be happier. If duties such as kids are involved, I believe that the individual has no right to shy from his or her duties to those kids. If person decides that they dont feel good, they shouldn’t quit their occupation. In, # 8220 ; The Glass Menagerie, # 8221 ; Tom had a right to go forth. Possibly he should hold made certain that his female parent and sister would non be out on the streets with no income, or watched from afar to see if they were making good. He was non entitled to remain and take over his male parent # 8217 ; s duties, and his female parent should hold been more gracious to him. The chief point is, nevertheless, that Tom was entitled to his felicity and his female parent and sister were non his duty. Most people, when put in highly nerve-racking state of affairs, will withdraw, like Tom in, # 8220 ; The Glass Menagerie. # 8221 ; Most of the clip people worry about their duties so much that they forget to seek felicity. An unhappy individual will stop up as an irresponsible individual. Most people will state that, to them, duties are first and felicity is a distant second. Those people are either unhappy, or lying.