A scientific theory of culture, and other essays

by Bronisław Malinowski

Book Overview

Published, posthumously, this volume is both a summing up and a reformulation of Malinowski's functional theory of culture. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0007JR5DE
• Release Date: January 1944
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Marriage and family mark the beginning of culture

B. Malinowski's work constitutes an attempt to put anthropology on a scientific footing. His theory is very simple: anthropology is the study of the institutions, which are organized to satisfy human biological needs. An example: sex as a basic human need is organized, among other things, by marriage. His lists of basic human needs and of universal institutional types seem rather arbitrary. Basic human needs: metabolism (food), reproduction (sex), corporeal well-being (cleaning), security (shelter), activity (games), growth (of offspring), health (medecine). Universal institutional types: reproduction (marriage), territory (city), physiology (gender), spontaneous associations (secret clubs), profession (sorcerer), upbringing (learning), health (hospital). Anthropology studies also the functions of the different institutions as well as evolutionary aspects (transformations of institutions). The author makes also a distinction between basic and secondary (derivative) needs, which are economics, social control, education and political organization. Every culture has its own specific values, norms, motives and customs. The author gives every time a brief explanation of the different terms he uses. Malinovsky has also an important general ethic message: in anthropology all tribes, races or colours are equal. His analysis is still very topical: missionaries should change their behaviour. The West promised the colonized peoples equal rights, but it refuses to give them a share of world power and wealth and even national liberty. An essay discusses the works of James Frazer (The Golden Bough), which influenced mightily the theories of Freud. Today, these studies are considered as unscientific, although very interesting. Malinovski's work has also a very important flaw: he believes that the work of Kropotkin (cooperation) rendered Darwin's theory more or less obsolete. For a clear explanation of the influence of Darwinism on anthropological transformations, I recommend 'Genes, Mind, and Culture' by C. Lumsden and E.O. Wilson. Although sometimes out-of-date, this work is still a worth-while read.