ANTH 399 Midterm 1

Question 1

Ecological Succession

Answer 1

the process of gradual and sequential changes in the composition of an ecosystem over time

biodiversity, habitat development, nutrient cycling, soil formation, ecosystem stability, adaptation to environmental changes, human understanding, conservation

Question 2

Mutualism

Answer 2

a symbiotic relationship between two species in which both partners benefit from the association

human-ecological systems (i.e., agriculture)
cultural practice (i.e., certain animals may be considered sacred due to mutualism)
agriculture
human-animal bond
spiritual and symbolic significance (certain plants/animals are integral to rituals, ceremonies etc)

Question 3

Coevolution

Answer 3

two or more species reciprocally influence each other’s evolution over a period

domestication, medicinal plants, agriculture, adaptation to changing environment

Question 4

Western Progressivism

Answer 4

advocates for social, cultural, and political change, often driven by principles of social justice, equality, and human rights

cultural evolution, globalization, social movements, identity politics

Question 5

Wilderness

Answer 5

areas of land that remain largely undisturbed by human activities and are characterized by their natural, unmodified state

traditional ecological knowledge, cultural ecology, human-wildlife relationships,

Question 6

Ontological Turn

Answer 6

a shift in the discipline’s theoretical orientation, emphasizing a focus on ontology (study of being, existence)

cultural relativism, indigenous knowledge systems, ethnographic methodology

Question 7

Ecological Perspective

Answer 7

studying human societies and cultures within the context of their environment and ecosystems

holistic understanding, cultural ecology, adaptation and resilience, human-environment interaction

Question 8

Dialectical Biology

Answer 8

integrates dialectical materialism with the study of biology and natural sciences (interconnectedness of biological and cultural evolution)

Question 9

Crisis Learning

Answer 9

the adaptive processes and knowledge acquisition that occur within a community or society in response to significant and often disruptive events

adaptation to environmental change, cultural resilience, survival strategies, knowledge transmission

Question 10

Incremental Learning

Answer 10

the gradual and continuous acquisition of knowledge, skills, and practices within a cultural or social group

culture transmission, adaptive evolution, skill development, language acquisition

Question 11

Cartesian Dualism

Answer 11

a fundamental separation between the mind and the body (they are distinct qualities)

mind-body dichotomy in culture, cultural concepts, religious practices, worldview

Question 12

Metanarratives and key metaphors

Answer 12

M: postmodern thought, grand, overarching, and comprehensive stories or ideologies that explain nature of reality

K: powerful symbols or linguistic expressions that encapsulate and convey cultural meanings

cultural relativism, decentering western perspectives

Question 13

Eeyou Eedouwin

Answer 13

traditional way of life and cultural practices of the Cree people

cultural resilience, sustainable practices, interconnectedness with land, spiritual/ceremonial practices

Question 14

Technology

Answer 14

the tools, techniques, and knowledge that humans use to manipulate their environments

material culture, social organization (division of labour), economic systems, communication

Question 15

Traditional ecological knowledge

Answer 15

cumulative knowledge, practices, and beliefs held by indigenous and local communities about their environments

sustainable resource management, biodiversity conservation, cultural identity, medicinal knowledge, cultural transmission

Question 16

Lewontin’s Thesis

Answer 16

argued against the idea that race is a meaningful biological category based on genetic differences

genetic variation within populations, social construction of race

Question 17

Problems with subsistence typologies

Answer 17

refer to classifications or categorizations of societies based on their primary means of obtaining food and resources

simplification of complex realities: oversimplify complex ways in which societies obtain and utilize resources
cultural bias and ethnocentrism: may reflect cultural bias since they are often developed from the perspective of western observers

Question 18

alternative approach to subsistence typologies

Answer 18

adopting a more nuanced, context-specific, and dynamic perspective that considers the interconnectedness of economic, social, and cultural dimensions within a given society

holistic understanding, contextual flexibility, cultural sensitivity,

Question 19

how are tools conflated with technology?

Answer 19

technological advancements (modern tools involve complex technological components)
functionality over form
instrumental role
innovation and invention

Question 20

how does western science differ from traditional ecological knowledge

Answer 20

TEK focuses on the holistic understanding and connectedness with nature, whereas WS focuses on analysis of nature, TEK is long-term observation and WS is short-term, TEK views humans as an integral part of nature, WS views nature as an object to be studied objectively

Question 21

how wilps incorporate social institutions in their management schemes (identify and define)

Question 22

how does western post-enlightenment cosmology see the place of humans in the world and the role of ecologists

Answer 22

WPEC - humans are the centre of the worldview, it places a significant emphasis on human interests and often asserts human dominance over the natural world. it views nature as a separate and external entity, distinct from humans. world is often measured in terms of its utility to human needs. apply scientific methods to understand and manipulate the environment, primarily for human benefit. Humans over nature.

Question 23

what was the original account of Papa Nui’s (easter island) fate, and how has it been amended?

Answer 23

O: revolved around a narrative of ecological and societal collapse attributed to the island’s inhabitants. experienced a catastrophic downfall due to overexploitation of natural resources (deforestation), resource depletion, environmental degradation

A: it is important to emphasize a more holistic and nuanced approach to understanding the island’s fate because there were multiple factors involved (diseases, European contact, environmental variability)

Question 24

If the Abrahamic (Judeo-Christian-Islamic) traditions (Great Chain, Origin story) reflect millennia of environmental learning, why has it become maladaptive?

Answer 24

these narratives often place humans at the pinnacle of creation, with earth and its resources seen as provided for human use. have provided the moral and ethical framework for many, but are now maladaptive. it has led to exploitative attitudes toward the environment. it contributes to issues like deforestation, pollution and climate change.