Chapter 2

Unit 1: Social Anthropology – Meaning, Definition, and Scope

This section introduces the field of Social Anthropology, outlining its objectives, definitions, and scope. Social Anthropology is primarily concerned with the comparative study of societies, with a particular focus on primitive societies. The unit aims to help students understand the meaning and definitions of Social Anthropology, its subject matter and scope, the reasons for studying primitive societies, and the nature of the discipline. The section also highlights that Social Anthropology is a scientific field, though debates continue about the extent of its scientific nature. Key questions include whether Social Anthropology can make predictions like the physical sciences and whether its methods of data collection, classification, tabulation, and analysis are fully scientific.

• Social Anthropology is the comparative study of societies, especially primitive societies.
• The discipline seeks to understand the primary objective of comprehending primitive peoples.
• Different scholars have provided varying definitions based on their experiences, interests, and perspectives.
• The scientific nature of Social Anthropology is still a subject of discussion.
• Important questions include the discipline's capacity for prediction and the scientific rigor of its methods.
• 📌 Social Anthropology: The comparative study of societies, especially focusing on primitive societies.
• 📌 Primitive Societies: Societies that are considered less complex and often studied to understand human social evolution.

1.02 Meaning and Definitions of Social Anthropology

This section presents various definitions of Social Anthropology as provided by anthropologists, social anthropologists, and sociologists. Each definition reflects the scholar's experience, interest, and viewpoint. The focus is on the comparative and scientific study of societies, particularly primitive societies. The definitions emphasize the discipline's primary objective: understanding primitive people and their societies.

• Definitions of Social Anthropology vary among scholars.
• The primary focus is on the study and understanding of primitive societies.
• Definitions reflect the scientific and comparative approach of the discipline.
• 📌 Redcliffe-Brown: Social Anthropology is the branch of Sociology that studies primitive societies.
• 📌 Evans-Pritchard: Social Anthropology is a branch of sociological studies mainly concerned with primitive societies.
• 📌 Nadel: The main aim of Social Anthropology is to understand primitive peoples.