Читать книгу Introducing Anthropology - Laura Pountney - Страница 60

It is possible to see that what makes us human are evolved biological characteristics that in many complex ways link to culturally evolved behaviours. Anthropologists have different views on the extent of the relationship between human biology and culture. One major key to the survival of human beings is their ability to adapt to their environment. This has been crucially important, given the major changes that have occurred in the environment at critical stages over the course of human evolution.

There are minor biological differences between human groups. Biological anthropologists are interested in these differences in terms of genetic ancestry, particularly in relation to how other groups of early humans overlapped. Cultural anthropologists, however, are interested in the ways that perceived differences between groups of people are misused by some for economic and political reasons.

The relationship between human biology and human culture is only one of the many problems addressed by evolutionary anthropology. Understanding the processes behind the origin of humankind and the evolution of our unique adaptations are among the most fundamental questions that we have asked ourselves. The search for answers places the study of human evolution at the heart of anthropology.