ABSTRACT

Other Cultures provides a lucid introduction to social anthropology. The author devotes the first part of the book to a consideration of what social anthropology is and seeks to do, what areas it covers, and the methods of investigation employed by social anthropologists. The second part discusses the major categories of research through which social anthropologies have advanced our knowledge of other cultures. These include marriage, kinship, political organization, law, economic and property relations, magic, religion, and social change. The final chapter surveys some of the contributions social anthropology has made to the understanding of other cultures. A short reading list follows each chapter.

part |89 pages

Part One

chapter |12 pages

Introduction and Background

chapter |15 pages

What Social Anthropologists Study

the Need for Theory

chapter |15 pages

Explanation in Social Anthropology

Social Function and Social Structure

chapter |12 pages

Beliefs and Values

chapter |13 pages

Fieldwork

part |183 pages

Part Two

chapter |23 pages

Kinship

chapter |21 pages

Marriage and Affinity

chapter |25 pages

Social Control

Political Organization

chapter |17 pages

Social Control

Law and Social Sanctions

chapter |16 pages

The Field of Ritual

Magic

chapter |21 pages

The Field of Ritual

Religion

chapter |23 pages

Social Change

chapter |11 pages

Conclusion and Assessment