Cultural materialism

Definition

Cultural materialism is an anthropological theory that emphasizes the role of material conditions, such as environment, economy, and technology, in shaping culture and social structures. This perspective suggests that understanding a culture's material aspects is crucial to comprehending its beliefs, practices, and overall societal organization. It connects deeply with the broader understanding of culture as it highlights how the physical world influences human behavior and social systems.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cultural materialism was developed by anthropologist Marvin Harris in the 1960s as a way to understand how cultural practices are influenced by material conditions.
2. This theory posits that environmental factors, such as climate and resources, significantly impact the way cultures develop and adapt over time.
3. Cultural materialists argue that technology and economic systems determine social organization, often prioritizing these aspects over ideational factors like beliefs and symbols.
4. Harris suggested that to fully understand a culture, one must consider the interplay between infrastructure (economic base), structure (social relations), and superstructure (ideology).
5. Cultural materialism has been influential in fields beyond anthropology, including sociology, archaeology, and cultural studies, offering a lens through which to analyze various social phenomena.

Review Questions

• How does cultural materialism differ from other anthropological theories in understanding the concept of culture?
  • Cultural materialism differs from other theories by prioritizing material conditions such as economy and environment as the primary influences on cultural practices. While other approaches may focus more on symbolic aspects or ideas, cultural materialists assert that these material factors are foundational in shaping a society's beliefs and behaviors. This perspective encourages a more empirical examination of how human societies interact with their physical surroundings.
• In what ways does cultural materialism illustrate the relationship between technology and social organization within cultures?
  • Cultural materialism illustrates that technology is not just a tool but a critical factor that shapes social organization. For instance, the development of agricultural technologies can lead to changes in settlement patterns, population density, and social hierarchies. As societies adopt new technologies, they often experience shifts in economic practices, which can reshape family structures and communal relationships. Thus, technological advancements are deeply interwoven with cultural evolution.
• Evaluate the implications of cultural materialism for understanding historical changes in human societies.
  • Cultural materialism offers valuable insights into historical changes by emphasizing how shifts in material conditions lead to transformations in culture. By examining economic factors like trade routes or agricultural practices alongside environmental changes, one can better understand why certain societies thrived or declined over time. This approach encourages an analysis that considers not only cultural beliefs but also the tangible circumstances that prompted adaptations, providing a comprehensive framework for studying human history.

Related terms

Cultural relativism: The practice of evaluating a culture based on its own standards and values rather than from an external perspective.

Structuralism: An approach in anthropology that analyzes cultural phenomena in terms of their relationship to larger structures, often focusing on underlying patterns and systems.

Economic anthropology: A subfield of anthropology that examines how economic practices and institutions shape and are shaped by cultural beliefs and social relations.