Final answer:
Some scholars suggest that anthropology was a form of applied colonialism, as early anthropology promoted an ethnocentric way of thinking and collected knowledge from Indigenous peoples. However, there have been changes within the discipline in the 20th and 21st centuries, with applied anthropology addressing these critiques and involving Indigenous peoples in research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The suggestion that anthropology was a kind of 'applied colonialism' has been made by some scholars. This view stems from the fact that early anthropology played a role in promoting an ethnocentric way of thinking, with anthropologists detailing hypothetical schemes of cultural development based on European ideals. Additionally, there have been criticisms of anthropology's participation in the colonization of Indigenous societies, as anthropologists collected knowledge from Indigenous peoples for their own purposes. However, it is important to note that there have been changes within the discipline in the 20th and 21st centuries, with applied anthropology addressing these critiques and allowing Indigenous peoples to be active participants in research.