Science, Culture and Society

Essay # 116740

Anthropology > Cultural

A look at the importance of science within the social and cultural context.

804 words () | 2 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at science as a social activity among ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and the Romans, where many social groups created secret societies that were centered on the pursuit of science. The paper explores how science within ancient civilizations often evolved into the mixture of mysticism and religion and thus became staples of cultural iconology throughout the centuries. The paper looks specifically at the Azande as an example of how the influence of science can affect both the social activity and cultural heritage of a society, especially indigenous societies.

From the Paper:

"Science as a social activity has long been in practice among ancient civilizations. During ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and the Roman era, science was mainly reserved for the intellectually elite and as such became both a venue for the exchange of ideas as well as an active member only social networking platform. The concept of science as a social activity becomes extremely prevalent when looking at both indigenous civilizations in North and South America. The practice of using science as a platform for social interaction is common in civilizations because the distinction of studying science places a heavy burden of proof upon members."

Sample of Sources Used:

Baldwin, E. (2000). Introducing Cultural Studies. Atlanta: University of Georgia Press.
Rapport, N. (2000). Social and Cultural Anthropology. United Kingdom: Rutledge (UK).