Final answer:
Leslie White focused on cultural evolution, arguing that technological advancement was the driving force behind cultural progress, rather than the unilineal progression model suggested by earlier anthropologists. He criticized anthropology's Eurocentric biases and silence on racial exploitation. White's work influenced a shift towards recognizing the importance of technology in cultural development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leslie White, an influential anthropologist, focused on cultural evolution in his works. He critiqued the theories of unilineal cultural evolution, which were prominent in the anthropological field, asserting a different viewpoint where technology played a pivotal role. White did not adhere to the idea that all cultures pass through a single set of evolutionary stages towards civilization, as theorized by anthropologists like E.B. Tylor and Lewis H. Morgan. Instead, White, following Morgan's insights, considered technological advancements as the primary driver that shapes cultural progress. This perspective sees the development of new tools and methods in manufacturing as leading to higher stages of social organization and complexity.
Furthermore, Leslie White addressed the issues within the anthropological community itself, criticizing the discipline for its silence on the domination and exploitation of non-White societies and its Eurocentric biases. He challenged the notion of anthropology being a science of man when it largely neglected the experiences and humanity of people of color. His critical view extended to anthropological illustrations that portrayed a hierarchy of evolution culminating with the European race, reflecting biases and reinforcing racial inequalities.
White's ideas contributed to a shift in anthropological thought by redirecting the focus from a unilineal progression of culture to recognizing the importance of technology and its relation to social patterns. His skepticism towards the unilinear progression models and his emphasis on technological determinism reflect an endeavor to contextualize cultural development within a broader and more mechanistic framework rather than a strict evolutionary path.