The use and abuse of biology, an anthropological critique of sociobiology

Résumé du document

According to M. Sahlins, vulgar sociobiology is "the explication of human social behavior as the expression of the needs and drives of the human organism". This thesis implies that social organization is exclusively determined by biology. However, among other arguments, the author argues that one can observe a missing link between "the character of society" and human one, and therefore concludes that one cannot state that there is any biological determinism. Taking this statement into account, how can one qualify the complex relationship between nature, culture and human social behavior? While being based on the whole article, this reflection will mostly focus on two paragraphs, starting from "In the symbolic event?, to "as the cultural mediation of the organism? (P12-14).

Extraits

[...] The use and abuse of biology, an anthropological critique of sociobiology Nature or nurture[1]? According to M. Sahlins', vulgar sociobiology is explication of human social behavior as the expression of the needs and drives of the human organism” ; this thesis implies that social organization is exclusively determined by biology. However, among other arguments, the author argues that one can observe a missing link between character of society” and human one, and therefore concludes that one cannot state that there is any biological determinism. [...]

[...] Hence, what one observes in man and that one can interpret as human nature is actually “effects of a prolonged cultural section”. Moreover, the importance of culture relies on the fact that this factor allows humans to escape from biology; in other words, culture is the solution offered to individuals to emancipate from “emotional or motivational necessity”. Through this statement, the author affirms that culture can (and does) transform human biology, as well as shaping human behavior, instead of being slaves of natural characteristics. [...]

[...] In a nutshell, this article focuses on the importance of culture to explain human social behavior, in opposition to (vulgar) sociobiological theories. The author goes even further than Franz Boas, who, while acknowledging that “there are organic reasons why individuals differ in their mental behavior", states that existing biological difference are of minor importance”. Indeed, according to Boas, culture combined with biology to create mankind What is particularly interesting is Sahlins main argument regarding the prevalance of culture on nature is the fact that, according to him, even when some draw a link between nature and human conduct, natural characteristics were shaped by culture ; to quote the author, “Human behavior will be better understood as the cultural mediation of the This sentence perfectly illustrates Sahlins' thesis, i.e. [...]

[...] What one has to understand is actually that culture shapes nature. This statement seems to be shared with Franz Boas, who states that organs are “capable of adjustment”[2]. According to him, biological factors have a deep influence on human reactions; yet, one cannot say that a purely “anatomical basis” can explain the differences of behavior among individuals. Secondly, Sahlins lays emphazis on the major importance of culture regarding human social behavior, through different arguments which, again, are quite specific to his thought. [...]