Author
Franz Boas
1858-1942
Franz Boas (1858-1942) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaBooks by Franz Boas
The Central Eskimo Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1884-1885, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1888, pages 399-670
"The Central Eskimo" by Franz Boas is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. It provides a comprehensive ethnographic account of the Central Eskimo tribes, focusing on their geography, distribution, and way of life. The book meticulously outlines the observations and collections made by the author during his journey to Cumberland Sound and Davis Strait, as well as accounts from other explorers. The opening of the text introduces the author’s journey and foundational observations about the Eskimo tribes. Boas explains that the work is primarily based on his own research, supplemented by existing reports from other travelers. He emphasizes the significance of geography in the distribution of these tribes and outlines the seasonal migrations that dictate their lifestyle, heavily reliant on the availability of seals and other marine life. The introduction sets up a detailed examination of the tribes, their customs, and their adaptations to the harsh northern environment.
The mind of primitive man : $b A course of lectures delivered before the Lowell Institute, Boston, Mass., and the National University of Mexico, 1910-1911
"The Mind of Primitive Man: A Course of Lectures Delivered Before the Lowell..." by Franz Boas is a book published in 1911. This groundbreaking anthropological work challenges racist and eugenic theories about race and intelligence that dominated early twentieth-century thought. Boas examines claims linking physical characteristics to mental capacity, explores the role of environment versus heredity, and compares languages and cultures across civilizations. His analysis dismantles the concept of racial hierarchies and argues that cultural development depends on historical causes rather than biological race.
Anthropology : $b [a lecture delivered at Columbia University in the series on science, philosophy and art, December 18, 1907]
"Anthropology: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University in the Series on Science, Philosophy and Art" by Franz Boas is a scholarly publication written in the early 20th century. The book serves as a comprehensive overview of the field of anthropology, focusing on the diverse aspects of human life across different geographical and social environments. It discusses how various biological, geographical, and psychological factors influence human traits and behaviors. In the lecture, Boas articulates the significant challenges faced by anthropologists as they seek to unite the various strands of the discipline under a cohesive framework. He explores the origins and development of human types both physically and mentally, highlighting the importance of cultural evolution and environmental influences on societies. By examining primitive tribes lacking written history and the complex interplay of social organizations, beliefs, and inventions across cultures, Boas argues for an understanding of humanity that embraces diversity. He emphasizes the need for an objective study of anthropology that transcends historical narratives, positioning it as a vital science for comprehending human behavior and societal evolution.
Anthropology and modern life
No description available.
Race and nationality
"Race and nationality by Franz Boas" is a scholarly essay in anthropology and social thought written in the early 20th century. The work challenges popular beliefs about race and nationalism, arguing that supposed racial instincts and pure racial types are myths, that nationality rests on shared culture more than blood or language, and that humanity should move toward a federation of nations. The essay rejects the idea that Europe’s conflict is a war of races, showing that physical types and ancestries are widely mixed and do not match national borders or languages. It dismantles the blond Aryan myth, finds no evidence for the inferiority of mixed populations, and explains that what we call race often masks national habit and sentiment. Nationality, it argues, grows from common habits, feelings, and political life; language can aid it but is not essential, as shown by places like Belgium and Switzerland, and even polyglot empires can develop shared civic ideals. While acknowledging nationalism’s creative role in enlarging the individual’s field of action, the essay warns against its aggressive, expansionist misuse in pan-movements. Tracing social evolution from small hordes to nations, it proposes the next step: a federation of nations with common aims, surpassing mere arbitration. It concludes that education should temper patriotic fervor with international ethics, and that war is defensible only to protect the integrity of essential ideals, not to impose one nation’s will on others.