What are the main questions - themes characterize the functionalism of a Malinowski or the structural functionalism a Radcliffe-Brown? Discuss the review in theory and method, which brought the two founding figures of British anthropology in the academic tradition.
Bronislaw Kaspar Malinowski
(1884 - 1942) and Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown (1881 - 1955) are amongst the leading British anthropologists of the early 20th Century.
The simultaneous publication of Malinowski's "Argonauts of the Western Pacific. An Account of Native Enterprise and Adventure in the Archipelago of Melanesian New Guinea, and Radcliffe-Brown's "The Andaman Islanders" in 1922 - a time marked by the debate between evolutionism and Diffusionismus is - marks a turning point in British anthropology.
Malinowski collects the data for his monograph "Argonauts of the Western Pacific" during his (intermittent) nearly 3-year stay on the Trobriand Islands in Melanesia (1915 - 1918). Overall, Malinowski written three monographs on the Trobriand, which are collected at that visit, impressions and findings and basis for his theoretical writings. In Argonauts of the Western Pacific "Malinowski is the main emphasis in the ceremonial exchange system of the Trobriand - kula - apart. In the introduction he demonstrates his revolutionary method of field research before - the participant observation.
Radcliffe-Brown's monograph "The Andaman Islanders" is based on a research trip that he already 1906 - 1908 led by the now one of India belonging to Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. The first four chapters of the book, Radcliffe-Brown writes just after his return, they consist primarily of ethnographic material, the description of social phenomena, ceremonies and myths as well as underlying religious ideas. From 1910 to 1912 Radcliffe-Brown research at the Aborigines in Western Australia, during which time he also deals with the work of Frenchman Emile Durkheim. By 1914, Radcliffe-Brown writes, finally his analysis of the collected data down to the Andaman Islands.
functionalism
Bronislaw Malinowski is considered the founder of functionalism. Basis of functionalism is the view that all socio-cultural phenomena can be viewed only in terms of their function. Functionalism is based on a holistic approach: culture is viewed as a whole, the elements (objects, attitudes and actions) are in mutual dependence. Functionalism is an ahistorical approach, which means that cultural elements are defined only by its function in the present. This is also a major point of Opponents of functionalism. Furthermore, functionalism has been criticized as a static theory, changes are not considered.
In his late work "A Scientific Theory of Culture" (1944) sums up his Malinowski theoretical considerations: his concept of function is basically oriented to the basic human needs. He goes out of seven biological needs of the people and their cultural "responses" (such as reproduction - relationship). Function can be viewed as a performance of a socio-cultural phenomenon with respect to satisfying a need. This biological orientation is including criticized by Radcliffe-Brown.
"Functionalism shaped the anthropology profound, although he was under the influence of Radcliffe-Brown soon would undergo the transformation to structural functionalism." (Page 280, Feest / carbon, major works of Ethnology)
structural functionalism
The Radcliffe-Brown's structural functionalism
operates at a higher abstraction level than Malinowski's functionalism. Basically, the question of the function of socio-cultural processes in relation to the functioning of the social structure (skeleton) is a society. The individual is in the analysis of such functions to no meaning.
In his monograph "The Andaman Islanders" analyzes Radcliffe-Brown, for example, the social function of ceremonies. This he sees in the generation of emotions, which ultimately secure the cohesion of the community.
criticized the structural functionalism is primarily for its overly strong focus on social structures and concomitant reduction of the individual (the individual is only a "roller support" of the meaning). As with the equally valid ahistorical functionalism and static orientation as criticisms. take
importance
directly to the next generation as both Malinowski Radcliffe-Brown also great influence as a teacher. Malinowski taught a long time at the London School of Economics. This is a long time the only institution in the UK, where the "new direction" of the British anthropology is taught. Radcliffe-Brown in England, however, can not take hold for a long time and teaches, among others, the universities of Alexandria, Cape Town, Chicago and Sydney. Only in 1937, he returned to England (Oxford) back.
Most importantly Malinowski's role as "father" of participant observation, he outlines the basic principles already in "Argonauts of the Western Pacific". Key points include the learning of the respective Language, participation in social life (up to the "going native") and the exact recording of the entire research process (where trigger Malinowski's own field research journals in the posthumous publication of great discussions).
Radcliffe-Brown's importance is likely to be found in the theoretical field. His goal was to establish a science of human society. This theory was able to sit down, but had his concept of the social structures of great influence on the work of his students and future generations.
Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown are considered the founding fathers of British social anthropology. Their importance for the overcoming of evolutionism and Diffusionismus is undisputed.
Used literature:
Feest Christian F. and Karl-Heinz Kohl (Hsg), major works of anthropology, Alfred Kröner Verlag, Stuttgart, 2001
Panoff Michael and Michel Perrin, Pocket Dictionary of Anthropology. Terms and definitions for the introduction, Dietrich Reimer Verlag, Berlin, 2000
Barth Frederik, Gringrich Andre, Robert Parkin, Silverman Sydel, One Discipline, Four Ways: British, German, French and American Anthropology, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2005
Alan Barnard, History and Theory in Anthropology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000
http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/ ~ tkirrste / bronislaw_malinowski.html
http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/ ~ tkirrste / alfred_r_radcliffe_brown . html
