Abstract
This research paper details the life and works of Franz Boas, known as the "Father of Anthropology." Boas was an early anthropologist who pioneered methods such as field work and ethnography, as well as the theory of cultural relativity. This paper explores Boas' personal history and education, as well as his ground-breaking work amongst the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of the U.S. The paper concludes by citing Boas's unique and lasting contribution to anthropology, which was his insistence upon the equal treatment of all cultures and his non-racist, relativistic ideals which still stand as examples of his lasting influence.

From the Paper
"After graduation, Boas discovered that there were not many positions available in academia for a Jewish liberal, a reflection of the widespread anti-Semitism of the time (Hyatt 1990). An attempt to immigrate to the United States was unsuccessful, and in frustration Boas turned back to his interest in geography (Hyatt 1990). In 1883, Boas secured a position on an expedition to the Baffin Island region in the Arctic, the goal of which was to research the connection between seawater and migration patterns among the Eskimo (McGee 2000). At the time of the expedition, anthropology was not considered a "reputable" academic subject, and Boas's interest in the expedition was primarily as a geographical study to investigate the influence of the environment on the native peoples' behaviors, movements and cultural activities."

Tags:Anthropology, Franz Boas, father of anthropology, fieldwork, cultural relativity, ethnography, early anthropologists

Abstract
This paper discusses how, although Charles Darwin and Franz Boas were paradigm-shattering theorists within their respective disciplines of biology and anthropology, their analysis of race reflected the common assumptions of their era, namely that the Caucasian race was superior to races of darker complexions.

From the Paper
"Thus Darwin, to justify what he sees as self evident, namely the superiority of white, supposedly civilized human society over the society of individuals in Africa and India despite appearances to the contrary instead but argue from the suspect supposition that because humans are afflicted to different degrees by different external parasites (even though flies can afflict both horses and dogs and members of many different species) that this must justify the distinction of different species of humanity. Continually, Darwin falls into bad science when creating demarcations between the races. Darwin accepts the dominant racial paradigm of his day, begins with a self-evident thesis--that the races of humanity are different, even if this is against empirically observed evidence--and uses his science to justify society's assumption. With a lack of data regarding the sterility of interspecies relationships of the kind he used to apply to animals, he still insists on the existence of different races as inherently different because of color and perceived temperament and a few anecdotes. "

Tags:animal, evolution, humanity, principle

From the Paper
"Race is one of the most bedeviling of anthropological characteristics. The concept, with the barest tips of its roots in biological and the rest of the plant firmly grafted to cultural and sociological ideals, is one of the first concepts that anthropologists dealt with vigorously in terms of the history of the profession and both helped establish it as a discipline in its own right (distinct from history, political economy, philosophy, comparative religion and ethics) and has kept it from being entirely assimilated into the post-colonial mindset. Like the poor for the rest of humanity, the idea of race - for both good and ill - seems always to be with the anthropologist.

This paper examines the views and research on race held and performed by Franz Boas, one of the preeminent members of the ..."

Abstract
This paper discusses how Boa's book ties the knot between the abstract meanings of spirituality with concrete everyday practices. It expands on the twelve facets of spiritual life mentioned in the book. The paper quotes from the text to qualify points made. The author of the paper offers a personal opinion on the book.

From the Paper
"Boa offered the book as a "practical handbook to spiritual formation" (21), and provided good bond of the abstract concept of spirituality to reality by applying it to everyday life. It can be a reference for college use, for it almost covers the whole spiritual travel. It also tackled from the beginning trail issues like realizing who God is, who we are now, who we can become "in Christ", what we can do to cultivate intimacy with God, how we can share his Word to others, and how can we unite with the community of believers."

Tags:Christianity, literature, belief, spirituality

Abstract
The paper discusses theories of culture in human relations, focusing on Geer Hofstede, Franz Boas, and Harry Triandis. The paper explains Hofstede's belief that culture creates a pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting that is acquired in early childhood and later shaped by interacting with family members, neighbors or colleagues. The paper also looks at Hofstede's surveys that characterized cultures but notes the criticisms of his work. The paper then looks at Franz Boas' theory of cultural relativism and its criticisms and Harry Triandis' individualism - collectivism theories and their limitations. The paper concludes that given the significant role that culture plays in human relations, its understanding should be seen as a top priority when in a multicultural environment.

From the Paper
"Consequently, Hofstede (2005) makes use of the fragment from Rose's play for building his theory of culture as mental programming. According to him, every individual subscribes to a "pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting" that is acquired in early childhood and later shaped by interacting with family members, neighbors or colleagues (i.e. the social environment to which he/she belongs). Moreover, the Dutch sociologist asserts that once acquired, such patterns become solid 'programs' that dictate humans' behavior, emotions and thoughts and, therefore, must be 'unlearned' in order to make room for learning new things."

Tags:cultural, relativism, individualism, -, collectivism

Abstract
This paper presents the theories of the evolutionists regarding evolution and progress and compares them to the criticism presented by Frank Boas on the theory of human progress.

From the Paper
"Herbert Spenser, Lewis Morgon and Taylor all depended strictly on the theoretical dimensions of the theory of evolution and social progress and did not take into account the statistics that would have upheld their theories. They suggested that the theories were infallible on their own but Boas had other thoughts. In the earliest years of anthropology, words and things were treated as objects to be collected: the Linnaean concept of material objects as natural history specimens parallels the folklorist's notion of narrative plots as collectible, mappable, comparable things (Chapman 1985). Boas, early on, considered them to be 'pre-existing' attributes of culture, somehow pure because they seemed to him less influenced by the ethnographic observer than other aspects of culture. While the evolutionary theorists depended on cultural changes for proof of development Boas demanded statistical evidence and therein lay the main point of dissent for without evidence the evolutionists became just another fragment of society offering a theory with no evidence."

Tags:ethnographic, research, statistics, dissemination, primitive, culture, society, genes, nature

Abstract
This paper relates that, as of 2005, the Bank of America had $1.2 trillion in assets and approximately 175,000 full-time employees in 190 countries, managed through four business segments: 1) Consumer and commercial banking; 2) asset management; 3) global corporate and investment banking and 4) equity investment. The author points out that the company's business model is based on recognizing its domestic and international consumers' needs and identifying more effective ways of delivering products and services to satisfy them, for which BOA has been an industry leader for years. The paper relates that the most glaring problem is the need for the company to concentrate on using its expertise in CRM (customer relationship management) to identify opportunities for improving its customer service in other countries where it is newly arrived and where the relationship between the country managers and its key executives remains formative. Many charts and graphs.

Table of Contents
Company Background
Company History
Milestones/Critical Events
Size, Markets, Market Share
Locations
Detailed Description of Business, Products and Services
Consumer and Commercial Banking
Asset Management
Global Corporate and Investment Banking
Equity Investments
Vision and Mission
Goals-Objectives-Strategies
Business Model
Company Performance
Management Characteristics
Bank of America Key Executives
SWOT & Analysis of Core Competencies, Capabilities, and Competitive Advantage
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Direct Competitor Comparison
Major Issues / Problems

From the Paper
"The term "bank" credit card is more accurately labeled a "universal" consumer card today, and this ubiquitous card was the brainchild of Bank of America. According to Robert D. Manning, the credit card as it exists today first emerged in 1958; the author notes that businesses stood to gain from this innovation for several reasons despite the added transaction costs. The universal bank credit card (1) offered a competitive alternative for consumers who shopped with proprietary retail credit cards, (2) lowered the merchants' costs for their own credit programs by reducing bookkeeping expenses, (3) eliminated cash-flow bottlenecks by reimbursing purchases within days, and (4) provided a path to a potentially large customer base that included all of Bank of America's clients. By the summer of 1958, Bank of America mailed out almost 100 million unsolicited credit cards."

Tags:crm, assets, executives, swot, credit-cards

Abstract
This paper examines claims of racism in the field of anthropology, particularly noting how physical anthropology has been used as a liberator as well as an inhibitor of social equality. According to the paper, anthropologists have used the physical aspects of different human beings classified under 'racial categories' over the centuries to justify pervasive social inequalities and outright segregation and brutal colonialism. The paper analyzes the work of Franz Boas who is cited as representing the outlook of his times. Additionally, the paper addresses the views of German anthropologists during the Nazi regime who supported Hitler's anti-Jewish laws with supposed scientific proof. The paper concludes by stating that physical anthropology has changed dramatically over the past 100 years, and continues to be an evolving field.

From the Paper
"One of the earliest influences upon concepts of race and racism in the field of anthropology was that of the early 20th century anthropologist Franz Boas. Boas "struggled to reconcile the tension between cultural anthropology and the methodological rigors of physical anthropology," arguing that physically, the "the average African American possessed the same mental capabilities as ordinary whites," but falling prey to the self-serving assumptions of his day, as Boas claimed there was a "dearth of 'men of high genius,' among African Americans (Smithers 2008, p.32). Boas failed to recognize the effects of racism in American society upon African-American young people as well as intellectual luminaries who overcame racism such as Booker T. Washington and W.E. B. Dubois. Boas also stated on other occasions that biologically "the mind of primitive man differed from that of civilized man" even while arguing "for a more rigorous approach to physical anthropology, incorporating political and social milieus into studies of race" "

Tags:academia, Franz Boas, Third Reich, stereotypes

Abstract
This paper answers the question of how knowledge is described as a social phenomena by Durkheim, Marx, Weber, and Boas. It looks into their research programs and theories.

From the Paper
"Not only does Durkheim pose knowledge in new terms, but Weber, Boas, and Marx also situate their conceptions of knowledge within different theoretical and practical frameworks. Each claims descendancy or affiliation with particular theorists or schools of thought, yet all deny absolute confinement and strict categorization. As well, knowledge as a social phenomenon, both in the creation and use, takes various forms. In this essay I describe separately the Weberian, Durkheimian, Boasian, and Marxist theories, research methods and goals, historical/theoretical locations, and social circumstances in relation to their different ideas of knowledge."

Tags:comte, dilthey, hegel, kant, philosophy, production, science, social, theory, understanding, value

Abstract
The paper describes Ruth Benedict's background, her search for fulfillment and meaning and her attraction to the field of anthropology. The paper discusses her relationship with Margaret Mead and outlines her exploration of various tribes, her interest in religion and life after death and her strong defense of civil liberties.

From the Paper
"She was born Ruth Fulton in New York in 1887 into an upper middle-class Protestant family of Anglo-Saxon descent. As such, the child avoided troubling discrimination common in those times against southern or eastern European immigrants and Jews. Yet, she still felt like "an outsider and observer of American life rather than a participant" (Caffrey 1989 pg 15). Ruth's father died unexpectedly when she was a toddler, a traumatic event which took a significant emotional toll on her mother. Afterward, she was raised in a religious home on her maternal grandfather's farm and, as a child, possessed a vivid imagination which often "put her in conflict with the family emphasis on common sense" (Caffrey 1989 pg 23)."

Tags:Mead, Boas, tribes, religion, death, civil, liberties, culture, field, work