Culture & Ethnology

by Robert Harry Lowie

"Culture & Ethnology" by Robert H. Lowie is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work aims to popularize ethnology by explaining cultural phenomena through a series of lectures delivered in 1917 at the American Museum of Natural History. It discusses fundamental concepts of culture, including its relationship with psychology, race, and environment, emphasizing that culture is a complex construct defined by the behaviors, beliefs, and practices acquired by humans in society. The opening of the text presents Lowie's intent to clarify the concept of culture within the framework of modern ethnological work, directly addressing the significance of culture and its applicability to both primitive and contemporary societies. Lowie underscores that while psychology provides insights into individual behavior, it falls short of fully explaining cultural phenomena, which are often collective and shaped by societal influences rather than innate traits. Thus, he sets the stage to explore various determinants of culture, intending to distinguish between the innate and learned behaviors that comprise cultural identities.