Final answer:
Franz Boas advocated for obtaining ethnographic information directly from the peoples being studied, establishing the basis for scientific anthropology. He also challenged ethnocentric theories, showing that each culture has its own unique trajectory. Anthropology's holistic approach and embrace of diversity make it well-suited for guiding us into the future.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to make anthropology scientific and usher it into universities, anthropologist Franz Boas advocated for scholars to obtain ethnographic information directly from the peoples they aimed to write about. This meant collecting information directly from the source rather than relying on other published sources. Boas also established standards of field research that became the foundation of contemporary anthropology.
Boas disagreed with ethnocentric and racist theories and used his ethnographic data to show that cultures have their own unique historical trajectory and are constantly changing by sharing new ideas and practices. This approach challenged the notion that all cultures develop in isolation towards a common goal. With its holistic approach, mixed methodology analyses, and embrace of diversity, anthropology is positioned to guide us into the future.
Furthermore, anthropological research can be conducted both in the field and through the study of collections of manuscripts and artifacts housed in universities and museums. These collections provide a valuable resource for studying human cultures and can be preserved and organized in special research laboratories.