The origins of anthropology lie in social sciences, humanities and natural sciences. This science is divided into four sub fields within itself: social or cultural anthropology, biological or physical anthropology, anthropological linguistics and archaeology. While there are various other disciplines that examine aspects of human life and existence, it is only anthropology that covers all these disciplines completely. It is a comparative and generalizing discipline, aimed at understanding humans on a global scale in all their diversity. Analytical techniques, theories and methods are extensively used to study human diversity. Also involved in anthropology are archival investigations and laboratory analyses. This science aims to understand dynamic interrelationships in all facets of human life through a holistic perspective. The big questions of the human condition are what is primarily considered in this study. These questions include particularistic research about what defines humans as species, who were the ancestors of humans, what are the basic physical traits of this species as well as a study of the behavioral traits.

Apart from this, anthropology also includes the study of differences and variations among humans of different groups – the reasons for these and how they differ. Also considered is the factor of how culture and organization influences the human species. One of the main methods of research included in the study of anthropology is the method wherein there is a participant and an observer. Anthropologists will observe people and societies and even become a part of the society they are studying. A more precse definition of anthropology as given in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is – “ the science of human beings; especially, the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture”

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