German Anthropology

Question 1

Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803)

Answer 1

‘Volksgeist’, or the “spirit of the people”; Emphasis on Holism in cultural diversity, nationalism, and the importance of folk culture contributed to the development of Cultural Relativism and application of cultures taken as a whole

Question 2

Franz Boas (1858-1942)

Answer 2

“The Methods of Ethnology” (1920): Empirical Observation, Relativism, Historical Particularism/ Context, Comparative, Fieldwork, Dynamic Cultural Change;

Question 3

Max Weber (1864-1920)

Answer 3

“The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” (1904):
Predestination: Calvinism taught the doctrine of predestination, which held that God had already determined the fate of individuals before they were born, instilling a sense of anxiety and uncertainty about one’s salvation, leading individuals to seek signs of God’s favour through worldly success and prosperity.
Divine Providence: Calvinists believed in the sovereignty of God and the notion of divine providence, which suggested that worldly success and material wealth could be interpreted as signs of God’s favour = legitimised pursuit of economic success as a means of glorifying God and fulfilling one’s religious duties.
The Calling: Calvinism emphasised the idea of the “calling” or vocation, wherein individuals viewed their worldly work as a means of serving God = encouraged a strong work ethic, diligence, and frugality, as individuals sought to fulfil their religious obligations through productive labor.