Volume 3, Issue 2, February – 2018 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology ISSN No:-2456 –2165 Introducing Anthropological Historiography as an Integral Component of Twenty-first Century Historiography: The Role played by Anthropological Historiography in the Attainment of Long-Term Anthropological Goals and Objectives Sujay Rao Mandavilli Abstract: - This paper is the last in our trilogy on Twenty- I. INTRODUCTION First Century Historiography. It attempts to bring all our endeavours to their logical culmination and as such may be This paper is the last in our trilogy on Twenty-First Century construed to be our apotheosis in this regard. The first Historiography. The first paper which was published way back paper proposed a basic approach for Historiography in the in 2015, 1 proposed a basic approach for Historiography in the Twenty-first Century and laid out the basic objectives of Twenty-first Century and laid out the basic objectives of Twenty-first Century Historiography. The second paper Twenty-first Century Historiography which included thirty- laid out the core principles of Twenty-first Century nine core objectives besides recommending a stake-holder Historiography, and these were seen a necessary adjunct driven approach with a clear focus and emphasis on for the accomplishment of the objectives of Twenty-first transparency, objectivity and accountability and a layered Century Historiography as defined in the first paper. In approach to presentation. This paper also proposed an this paper, we introduce Anthropological Historiography interface between Historiography and other sciences with an as an integral, though not core component of Twenty-first underlying objective of social and cultural emancipation, but Century Historiography and lay down is basic tenets and we now propose to take this exercise to an altogether new objectives. We also delineate the role that we expect will be level and forge new trajectories for the satisfaction and played by Anthropological Historiography in the fulfilment of an altogether different category of objectives. attainment of long-term Anthropological goals and The second paper which was published in 2016,2 laid out the objectives, and in promoting human welfare and well- core principles of Twenty-first Century Historiography such as being in general. Anthropological Historiography, with its long-term approaches, integration with other sciences, myriad and multiple interfaces with other sciences is also avoidance of pseudo-scientific approaches, internationalism, expected to play a major role in promoting a scientific pragmatism, transparency, openness, rigour, inter-disciplinary temper among the laity and the general public and trigger approaches, innovation etc, and these were seen a necessary shifts in individual and societal orientations in due course adjunct for the accomplishment of the objectives of Twenty- by countering popular perceptions on many issues that first Century Historiography as defined in the first paper. impact their daily lives and making outdated and popular paradigms and ideologies redundant. We expect that In this paper, we introduce Anthropological Historiography as Anthropological Historiography will play a major role in an integral, though not core component of Twenty-first marginalizing fringe movements besides leading to an Century Historiography and lay down is basic tenets and enhanced understanding of various aspects of science, objectives. We also delineate the role that we expect will be history and ethnology among the population and ushering played by Anthropological Historiography in the attainment of in intellectual movements where such movements are long long-term Anthropological goals and objectives, and in overdue, and very indirectly leading to a quantum increase in scientific endeavours. We also believe that 1 Historiography by Objectives: A new approach for the study of history Anthropological Historiography should be taught as a within the framework of the proposed Twenty-First Century School of specialized sub-discipline chiefly targeted towards higher Historiography Sujay Rao Mandavilli, ELK Asia Pacific Journal of Social grade students, or students pursuing advanced courses, Sciences Vol 1, Issue 2 (2015) and should be pursued not by general historians, but by 2 Enunciating the Core principles of Twenty-first Century Historiography: Some additional extrapolations and inferences from our studies and specialized Anthropological Historians. observations on Historiography, Sujay Rao Mandavilli, ELK Asia Pacific Journal of Social Science (ISSN: 2394-9392) in Volume 2, Issue 4 July to September 2016 IJISRT18FB25 www.ijisrt.com 1 Volume 3, Issue 2, February – 2018 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology ISSN No:-2456 –2165 promoting human welfare and well-being in general, also there would be some overlap of intent and methodologies speculating on its possible eventual introduction in schools, at between the two. least for advanced students in the field in such a way that the underlying threads and principles of socio-cultural change and II. CREATIONISM, SCIENCE AND PSEUDO- the underlying quintessential spirit behind human achievement SCIENCE can be brought out in a logical and cohesive fashion. Anthropological Historiography, with its myriad and multiple In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And interfaces with other sciences is also expected to play a major God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light. And God role in promoting a scientific temper among the laity and the saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from general public and trigger shifts in individual and cultural the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness orientations in due course by countering popular perceptions He called Night. And there was evening and there was on many issues that impact their daily lives and making morning, one day. (Genesis 1:1–2:3) outdated and popular paradigms and ideologies redundant. We expect that Anthropological Historiography will play a major Thus began the idea of Biblical creationism. Humans had role in marginalizing fringe movements besides leading to an however begun to speculate on the origins of life much, much enhanced understanding of various aspects of science, history earlier. While our knowledge of Egyptian, Mesopotamian and and ethnology among the population and ushering in Harappan beliefs is scant, we have a much better idea of the intellectual movements where such movements are long philosophical undercurrent of Greek thought from the writings overdue, and directly and indirectly leading to a quantum of Aristotle, Herodotus and Empedocles. Aristotle believed in increase in scientific endeavours. Anthropological some form of evolution with old life forms making way for the Historiography can be taught to students pursuing advanced new through constant adaptation and change. Both Herodotus courses, and the discipline of Anthropological Historiography and Empedocles developed similar ideas of evolution that can be pursued by a small group of specialists given the fact were based on adaptation. Herodotus, who had perhaps that the general historian may be ill-equipped and ill-prepared travelled more extensively than anyone else till then, and was to do so. We also look forward to a day (some time in the a pioneer historian and Anthropologist, also studied people future) when History will be replaced by Anthropology in from distant lands, and attempted to collect some evidence for schools and colleges to usher in an intellectual revolution, but evolution. Empedocles, who had proposed the four basic a study of history (which will undoubtedly form a part of it) elements of air, water, wind and earth, also proposed the first along with its core objectives will still get its due place in the theory explaining the origin of species. Anaximander proposed sun. This, we believe, is the way to counter the damage done a more comprehensive theory of evolution that emphasized to the human psyche by a cornucopia of egregious ideology- gradualism and discounted any idea of a divine hand. Early driven approaches. This appears to a distant pipe dream at versions of pangenesis, which proposed that multiple organs present but can still happen in the very-long term (and may of parents determined heredity, were also developed by need to happen in the interests of science and scholarship) if Hippocrates, Democritus and Galen, and these came to exert ‘the stars and planets align’ (The latter may appear to be a some influence on Darwin’s ideas. Xenophanes was one of the cruel irony but we will need to reckon with the quantum and first people to study fossils systematically, but failed to make the breadth of vested interests that will be involved and will major contributions to evolutionary theory. He proposed that need to be transcended). One other approach may be to life evolved gradually from lower forms to higher forms, identify how and why each topic taught to students benefits culminating ultimately in man. Thales and Democritus also them and society in general and proceed with syllabus-creation believed the life originated from inanimate objects. Aristotle accordingly, but we expect that such an exercise will meet proposed the world’s first crude biological taxonomy, with stiff opposition similarly). A simpler and a via media preceding Carl Linnaeus by two millennia. Some Romans approach may to introduce Anthropological Historiography