The Audible AnthropologistAnthropologists study human culture and society. Join the Audible Anthropologist (aka La Trobe Universitys Nicholas Herriman) as we describe some of these tools and put them to use. Author: Dr Nicholas Herriman
Anthropologists study human culture and society. They ask what it is to be human?. Anthropologists answer this question by analysing diverse societies to find out what all humans have in common. To undertake this study, anthropologists have a kit full of conceptual tools. Join the Audible Anthropologist (aka La Trobe Universitys Nicholas Herriman) as we describe some of these tools and put them to use. Language: en Genres: Courses, Education, Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Life and Death
Thursday, 20 June, 2013
Some of the West biggest moral disputes, such as abortion, life support, and euthanasia, centre on defining life and death. Anthropology shows us that while the definition of “alive” is culturally specific, one commonality many cultures appear to share is two concepts. Biological life consists in breathing, heart beating and so on. What we could call civil life consists in having ritual status or personhood. In other words, ‘being alive’ is not simply breathing. Nor is it simply having ‘civil life’. Copyright 2013 Nicholas Herriman / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.