Final answer:
Anthropology is unique because it takes a holistic approach to studying all facets of humanity, including culture, biology, linguistics, and archaeology, across all times and spaces, whereas other disciplines focus on specific aspects of society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anthropology differs from other disciplines that study people by its comprehensive scope and holistic approach. While disciplines like economics, political science, and religious studies focus on specific aspects of human society, anthropology encompasses all realms of human experience. This includes the study of human culture, biology, linguistics, and archaeology. Anthropologists employ a holistic methodology, known as holism, to understand how various elements of society interconnect in unexpected ways. They explore the unique process of human adaptation to physical and social environments, emphasizing cultural and biological diversity.
Furthermore, anthropology is distinct in how it observes humans as active agents continuously adapting, which presents complex, dynamic research conditions. The four subfields of anthropology—biological, archaeological, cultural, and linguistic—each provide a unique perspective on human culture. Biological anthropologists study the evolution of humans, archaeologists analyze ancient societies through material artifacts, cultural anthropologists engage in participatory observations of contemporary cultures, and linguistic anthropologists focus on the role language plays within cultural contexts.
With a uniquely relevant lens, anthropology addresses global issues such as environmental sustainability and cultural preservation. This field of study not only documents the creativity and ingenuity of human cultures but also places value on the diversity of human experiences through the concept of an 'technosphere'.