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What were we searching for in the Theoretical Stage of Anthropology?

User Dxc
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Final answer:

In the Theoretical Stage of Anthropology, anthropologists like Edward Tylor proposed hypothetical evolutionary schemes of cultural development from savagery to civilization, based on conjecture rather than empirical evidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Theoretical Stage of Anthropology, researchers sought to understand the evolution of cultures based on hypothetical schemes. These schemes often suggested a progression from 'savagery' through 'barbarism' to 'civilization', as famously theorized by Edward Tylor. However, this theoretical framework was based on conjecture rather than direct observation, which at the time was often disparaged as 'theorizing from the armchair'. Backgrounds in ontology, speculation on early human societies, and investigating cultural change were key elements within this stage, aiming to construct an understanding of human development and cultural dynamics. Importantly, this approach reflected an ethnocentric bias, assuming a linear trajectory of cultural advancement towards European norms of 'civilization'.

User Nathan Rutman
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