Premium
DIFFUSION AND INDEPENDENT INVENTION: A CRITIQUE OF LOGIC 1
Author(s) -
STEWARD JULIAN H.
Publication year - 1929
Publication title -
american anthropologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1548-1433
pISSN - 0002-7294
DOI - 10.1525/aa.1929.31.3.02a00070
Subject(s) - citation , history , anthropology , art history , sociology , computer science , library science
THERE exists a large proportion of anthropological data which admits of no clear-cut methodology but is usually handled according to inference and common sense logic. While this method may be soundly rational, the possibility of an enormous subjective element and fallacious logic is ever present and is demonstrated by the existence of the diffusion controversy. This controversy is made possible not only by the personal bias of the investigator but also by a confusion of the principles upon which the solution is based.