Meghann van Niekerk Social Anthropology 314 24720739

Social Anthropology Essay 1:

What is anthropology? Formulate a response through close engagement with the

reading by Graeber and Wengrow, in conversation with what you have read in your
prior undergraduate training.

Anthropology, the study of human social life and culture, delves into societal differences and
their emergence. "The Dawn of Everything" by David Graeber and David Wengrow
challenges traditional perspectives on human social evolution, providing a ground breaking
outlook on societies and questioning the essence of humans being “good or evil”(Graeber &
Wengrow, 2021:1).

Despite our 200,000-year existence as Homo sapiens, many historical details remain elusive,
lost to time (Graeber et al, 2021:1). Dominant narratives, influenced by thinkers like Jean-
Jacques Rousseau, often depict a shift from a primitive egalitarian state to a complex, unequal
society with the advent of agriculture and urbanization (Graeber et al, 2021:2).

This Rousseauian narrative has been challenged by Graeber and Wengrow, who argue that
societies didn't follow a single organisational approach for the most of human history. Human
communities engaged in a range of social experiments, defying the idea that pre-agricultural
societies were all small-scale, democratic, and lacking a clear path from simple to
complexity. (Graeber et al, 2021:3-4).

Their work highlights the ability of humans to create and be free, implying that the central
dilemma in human history is not only one of material resources but also of communal
decision-making on coexistence (Graeber et al, 2021:38). This viewpoint is consistent with
anthropology's emphasis on the variety of human experiences and the significance of
understanding cultures in the context of their specific circumstances.
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Moreover, Graeber and Wengrow criticise oversimplified and generalised perspectives on

human history that are shaped by the ideas of philosophers such as Rousseau and Hobbes.
They contend that these methods are intellectually and politically restrictive in addition to
being factually incorrect. Rather, they support a reassessment of history that takes into
account the complexity and diversity of earlier societies (Graeber et al, 2021:3).

A reconsideration of our understanding of human history and social development is

encouraged by Graeber and Wengrow's work, which is consistent with the larger objectives of
anthropology. They demand a method that acknowledges individuals as creative
and intelligent beings worthy of an in-depth understanding (Graeber et al, 2021:13).

This viewpoint has significant implications for how we comprehend inequality. Rather than
seeing inequality and civilization as unavoidable by-products of social complexity, Graeber
and Wengrow suggest re-examining the causes and characteristics of these phenomena
(Graeber et al, 2021:12). They make the case for a historical perspective that takes into
account the various ways that civilizations have chosen to organise themselves (Graeber et al,
2021:7).

Building on their concepts, it is clear that "The Dawn of Everything" provides a fresh
perspective on human history by undermining conventional wisdom and highlighting the
diversity and complexity of human societies. In line with the goal of anthropology, which is
to comprehend human civilizations in all of their diversity and complexity, this contributes to
a deeper, more sophisticated knowledge of our past, present, and future by going beyond
basic evolutionary models (Graeber et al, 2021:26).

In conclusion, Graeber and Wengrow's research challenges us to rethink human history and
consider societies as dynamic entities moulded by a variety of experiences. Their viewpoint
opposes accepted wisdom and promotes a more thorough comprehension of the complexity
present in human cultures. As anthropology develops further, accepting these complicated
Meghann van Niekerk Social Anthropology 314 24720739

viewpoints is essential to figuring out the complicated structure of our shared history and
managing the complexity of the present and future.
Meghann van Niekerk Social Anthropology 314 24720739

Reference List:

Graeber, D. & Wengrow, D. (2021) The Dawn of Everything: A new history of humanity.
New York: Picador/ Farrar, Straus and Giroux.