Final answer:
Ecological anthropology, or cultural ecology, is the study of how humans interact with their environment to develop adaptive cultural practices. It views technological and economic factors as essential to culture and incorporates studies of health outcomes and environmental effects under medical ecology. It examines the complex system of relationships in which humans are actors within a broader ecological scope.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ecological Anthropology (Cultural Ecology)
Ecological anthropology, also known as cultural ecology, is a subfield within anthropology that explores the relationships between human beings and their environments. Developed by Julian Steward in the 1950s, this approach emphasizes the importance of environmental factors in shaping cultural adaptations. Steward's concept of the 'cultural core' revolves around the methods used by humans in various environmental zones to procure resources necessary for survival, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Technological and economic factors are considered fundamental to culture as underlined by Marvin Harris’s theory of cultural materialism. Cultural ecology also delves into the study of economic anthropology and how human societies develop systems of production, exchange, and consumption in response to their environment.
Additionally, the theory of medical ecology, established by Paul Baker, focuses on the impact of the environment on health outcomes. Anthropologists within this field analyze ways in which environmental conditions influence not only health but also the cultural practices surrounding health and prevention of diseases. Finally, ontological anthropology further extends the investigation into cultural constructions of reality and the inclusion of nonhuman perspectives and entities within cultural systems.
Cultural ecology is inherently interdisciplinary, examining the complex interplay between biology, traditions, and diverse social and physical environments. It is concerned with humans as actors and agents of change within the broader system of meaning that encompasses other human beings, other species, and at times spirit beings, as part of the environment.