Franz Boas
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Franz Boas
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See moreA thought-provoking account of the life and work of Franz Boas and his influential role in shaping modern anthropology
Franz Boas (1858–1942) is widely acknowledged for his pioneering work in the field of cultural anthropology. His rigorous studies of variations across societies aimed to demonstrate that cultures and peoples were not shaped by biological predispositions. This book traces Boas’s life and intellectual passions from his roots in Germany and his move to the United States in 1884, partly in response to growing antisemitism in Germany. It explores his work with First Nations communities, and his influential role as a teacher, mentor, and engaged activist who inspired an entire generation.
Drawing from Boas's numerous but rarely read writings, Noga Arikha brings to life the man and the ideas he developed about the complex interplay of mind and culture, biology and history, language and myth. She provides a comprehensive picture of the cultural contexts in which he worked, his personal and professional relationships, and his revolutionary approach to fieldwork. He was celebrated in his lifetime for the cultural relativism he developed and the arguments he marshalled against entrenched racialism. But his was a constant battle, and Arikha shows how urgently relevant his voice and legacy have become again today.
Series: Jewish Lives
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INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300241235
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 22 July 2025
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Illustration: 1 b-w illus.
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 146.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 280
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About the Author
Noga Arikha is a historian of ideas and philosopher, and Senior Expert at the European University Institute, Florence. Her books include The Ceiling Outside: The Science and Experience of the Disrupted Mind and Passions and Tempers: A History of the Humours.
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