Franz Boas
Franz Boas
Franz Uri Boas was a German-American anthropologist and a pioneer of modern anthropology who has been called the "Father of American Anthropology". His work is associated with the movement of anthropological historicism...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth9 July 1858
CityMinden, Germany
CountryUnited States of America
teaching relative-value other-cultures
Its [the anthropological method] power to make us understand the roots from which our civilization has sprung, that it impresses us with the relative value of all forms of culture, and thus serves as a check to an exaggerated valuation of the standpoint of our own period, which we are only too liable to consider the ultimate goal of human evolution, thus depriving ourselves of the benefits to be gained from the teachings of other cultures and hindering an objective criticism of our own work.
justice people groups
No one has ever proved that a human being, through his descent from a certain group of people, must of necessity have certain mental characteristics.
men thinking race
There is no fundamental difference in the ways of thinking of primitive and civilized man. A close connection between race and personality has never been established.
passion sake alive
The passion for seeking the truth for truth's sake...can be kept alive only if we continue to seek the truth for truth's sake.
tasks differentiation causes
It is our task to inquire into the causes that have brought about the observed differentiation, and to investigate the sequence of events that have led to the establishment of the multifarious forms of human life
historical development domain
The historical development of the work of anthropologists seems to single out clearly a domain of knowledge that heretofore has not been treated by any other science
opportunity looks path
Remember that in every single case in history the process of adaptation has been one of exceeding slowness. Do not look for the impossible, but do not let your path deviate from the quiet and steadfast insistence on full opportunities for your powers.
ethical-standards good-man way
Courtesy, modesty, good manners, conformity to definite ethical standards are universal, but what constitutes courtesy, modesty, good manners, and definite ethical standards is not universal. It is instructive to know that standards differ in the most unexpected ways
race justice special
The existence of any pure race with special endowments is a myth, as is the belief that there are races all of whose members are foredoomed to eternal inferiority.
civilization disease modern
The disease of mutual distrust among nations is the bane of modern civilization
character ancestry determined
The behavior of an individual is determined not by his racial affiliation, but by the character of his ancestry and his cultural environment.
intelligent equality race
If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.
american-scientist character influence phenomena physical result
Ethnological phenomena are the result of the physical and psychical character of men, and of its development under the influence of the surroundings.