Ethics and Actions

Running Head: ETHICS AND ACTIONS
Ethics and Action
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ETHICS AND ACTIONS
Topic- What’s more important for an applied anthropologist?
Anthropology is an academic discipline where the methods and data are used to the
current events and other related situations. There is a variety of anthropology’s application which
are used for solving the global problems. The anthropologists are trained to be sensitive
culturally. They are expected to be aware of the cultural differences and respectful towards each
culture. Similarly, the applied anthropologists work in the academic settings (Oliver‐Smith
2016). They usually work in the hospitals, the government structures, the business offices, the
non-profit organizations and many others. The applied anthropologists utilize the theories the
methods and many ethnographic findings in order to solve the human problems. It is important
for promoting, managing and accessing the programs and influencing the social conditions of
human being. The cultural relativism suggests that no ultra is superior to other cultures while
comparing the systems of morality, politics, law and others. It is rather the philosophical idea
which says that all the cultural beliefs are valid and truth itself is relative (Scupin and DeCorse
2016). Ethnocentrism is the act of judging other people in terms of their cultural background and
preconceptions.
The ethnocentric behavior must be avoided by the applied anthropologists and their
approach must be inclusive of everyone. According to G.P. Murdock, it is the tendency to
depreciate other group and exalt the in-groups. The ethnocentrism must be avoided by the
applied anthropologists because it might lead to false assumption regarding the cultural
differences (Levinson. and Pollock 2016). Such generalizations are often conscious and not
innocent. This intentional generalization might lead to cultural misinterpretation and block the
ability of the anthropologist to see the truth and judge accordingly. He /She must stay committed
to the principles of cultural relativism and promote equality and cultural sensitivity.