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IL52, Culture and Political Economy
Spring 2009 Potential Exam Questions, Version 1
1. What are the four main sub disciplines of Anthropology? Briefly describe them.
2. Contrast the Spanish and English approach to Colonialism. How did this affect the development
of the discipline of Anthropology?
3. Explain Tylor's "unilineal cultural evolution" theory.
4. Explain Tylor's background and how it influenced the development of his theory.
5. Why is Tylor's social theory not accepted by anthropologists but still important to study?
6. What factors drive evolution and what factor hinder evolution according to Tylor's theory?
7. According to Ibn Khaldu, what is the relationship between "umran" and "assabiya?"
8. Compare and contrast the social theories of Tylor and Ibn Khaldun.
9. How did the introduction of guns interrupt Khaldun's theory?
10. What factors contributed to the rise of social theory in 19th century Europe?
11. How is knowledge different according to Rationalism and Empiricism? How did Kant comprise
between the two?
12. What fundamental principles arose from the Vienna Circle?
13. List and Explain Comte’s 3 stages in which human knowledge develops.
14. Compare and contrast Phenomenology and Positivism.
15. Do you agree with Bernard’s argument about social change causing social change? Explain.
16. Explain Humanism and how it contradicts Positivism.
17. Why do you think Bernard mentioned Hermeneutics in a paper about Social Science?
18. Explain Paul Radin’s main argument about cultural anthropology not being a science.
19. Is it ethical to try to predict human behavior?
20. Explain the meanings of Hermeneutics.
21. Although Francis Bacon and Rene Descarte are considered the founders of modern scientific
thinking, how do they differ?
22. How does fir self interest with innate good and marality? [Is spelling an “innate good?”]
23. What are the four different aspects mentioned when Smith talks about the division of labor?
24. What are the negative and positive effects of labor according to Adam Smith?
25. Explain the ideas of Schumpeter and Desai and contrast them to Adam Smith.
26. Explain Adam Smith’s idea on Morality and standards of good.
27. Prove that Adam Smith is a moral philosopher?
28. Explain Adam Smith’s 3 main functions of government.
29. To what extent does division of labor extend?
30. Compare and Contrast Smith and Durkheim.
31. Using the theories presented about Adam Smith ad Emile Durkheim, compare and contrast how
they would explain going to college?
32. How can the division of labor strengthen a society? How can it destroy a society?
33. What are the three roles of the state and how are they affected by specialization and division of
labor?
34. Explain Durkheim’s belief of empiricism and positivism compared to Adam Smith’s
contrasting view as a moral philosopher.
35. Explain Durkheim’s view on structural functionalism as opposed to Smith’s belief of selfinterest.
36. What is anomie according to Durkheim? As Smith focuses on the importance of productivity in
the division of labor, what does Durkheim feel may happen in the division of labor if new
technology and inventions are continued to be created?
37. How do Adam Smith and Durkheim differ in the way they view crime in society?
38. According to Durkheim, everything is societal. How does Durkheim explain suicide and time in
the societal context?
39. How does Durkheim understand inequality?
40. What is a social fact and how does it apply to Durkheimian thought?
41. Contrast Durkheim's interest in religion with that of Smith.
42. Contrast Smith's idea of how people work with that of Durkheim.
43. Describe the difference between organic and mechanical solidarity.
44. Contrast Marx’s definition of State with Adam Smith and Durkheim
45. Why does Marx believe capitalism is destined to end?
46. What is Marx’s idea of human nature and what are it’s [sic] negative effects?
47. According to Marx, how are culture and production linked?
48. Is Marx’s understanding of the stages of society similar to Tylor or Ibn Khaldun? If so, how?
49. How do Marx and Smith agree on the idea of alienation in the division of labor?
50. According to Marx’s ideas, what is the function of the middle class in modern day capitalism?
51. Using evolution, revolution, and the modes of production, explain Marx’s idea of stages of life.
52. How was Marx influenced by Darwin?
53. Why does Marx not believe he is a Marxist?