Final answer:
Cultural anthropology is built on the foundational concept of culture, shaped significantly by Franz Boas' idea of cultural relativism. The discipline employs a four-field approach and continuous fieldwork, evolving to address global issues and embrace diversity in all forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The foundation stone of the field of cultural anthropology is the concept of culture itself. This broad and dynamic understanding of culture encompasses what we make, do, and think, combining aspects like symbols, rituals, and social structures. The discipline of anthropology, particularly cultural anthropology, has been deeply influenced by the work of Franz Boas and his concept of cultural relativism, which emphasizes the understanding of human diversity and richness without judgment.
The four-field approach in anthropology, consisting of cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology, provides a holistic view that enables deep explorations into the human condition. This approach highlights how humans are agents in motion, always undergoing change. Fieldwork remains a cornerstone of the discipline, with a wide array of methods and settings that have expanded to include not only remote cultural studies but also urban settings and virtual environments.
Anthropology continuously adapts and evolves to incorporate new methodologies and confront contemporary global issues, remaining relevant through its commitment to diversity, both in its practitioners and in the perspectives they bring to understanding different cultures. By documenting and celebrating human creativity and diversity, anthropology contributes to our understanding of the ethnosphere, the rich, cultural mosaic that comprises humanity's collective heritage.