Franz Boas: Difference between revisions
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Franz Boas (born July 9, 1858 | Franz Boas (born July 9, 1858; Minden, Westphalia, Germany; died December 21, 1942; New York City, United States of America) was a [[German-American]] [[cultural anthropology|cultural]] [[anthropology|anthropologist]], born into a secular [[Jew|Jewish]] family. | ||
Franz Boas is said to have established [[ethnology]] as a serious [[social science]] in the United States | Franz Boas is said to have established [[ethnology]] as a serious [[social science]] in the United States, especially during his time at New York's [[Columbia University]]. Among the anthropologists trained by Boas were [[Alfred Louis Kroeber]]. [[Robert H. Lowie]], [[Paul Radin]], [[Alexander A. Goldenweiser]], [[Edward Sapir]], [[Melville Jean Herskovits]], [[Ruth Bendict]] and [[Margaret Mead]]. Boas strongly opposed [[evolutionism]], the leading theory of the day and favored [[diffusionism]]. | ||
Franz Boas training | Franz Boas training at Heidelberg, Bonn, and Kiel universities was in [[geography]], [[mathematics]] and [[physics]], where he earned his ''[[dissertation|Ph.D.]]'' in 1881. In 1883 he undertook an expedition to the [[Inuit|Esquimeaux]] of [[Baffin Island]]. Later [[fieldwork]] was with various [[Northwestcoast]] societies in [[British Columbia]], most famously the [[Kwakiutl]]. | ||
Franz Boas taught at [[Clark University]] and, from 1899, at Columbia University, he held [[museum]] posts at | Franz Boas taught at [[Clark University]] and, from 1899, at Columbia University, he held [[museum]] posts at Chicago's [[Field Museum]] and the [[American Museum of Natural History]] in New York. | ||
Outside | Outside the profession Franz Boas is famous for his agitation against [[racism]], he had left Germany in part because of [[antisemitism|antisemitic]] discrimination. Boas organized funds to support German scientists after [[World War I]]. | ||
Revision as of 08:01, 4 March 2010
Franz Boas (born July 9, 1858; Minden, Westphalia, Germany; died December 21, 1942; New York City, United States of America) was a German-American cultural anthropologist, born into a secular Jewish family.
Franz Boas is said to have established ethnology as a serious social science in the United States, especially during his time at New York's Columbia University. Among the anthropologists trained by Boas were Alfred Louis Kroeber. Robert H. Lowie, Paul Radin, Alexander A. Goldenweiser, Edward Sapir, Melville Jean Herskovits, Ruth Bendict and Margaret Mead. Boas strongly opposed evolutionism, the leading theory of the day and favored diffusionism.
Franz Boas training at Heidelberg, Bonn, and Kiel universities was in geography, mathematics and physics, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1881. In 1883 he undertook an expedition to the Esquimeaux of Baffin Island. Later fieldwork was with various Northwestcoast societies in British Columbia, most famously the Kwakiutl.
Franz Boas taught at Clark University and, from 1899, at Columbia University, he held museum posts at Chicago's Field Museum and the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Outside the profession Franz Boas is famous for his agitation against racism, he had left Germany in part because of antisemitic discrimination. Boas organized funds to support German scientists after World War I.