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Ethnographic analogy, the comparative method, and archaeological special pleading.
1Philosophy Department, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary T2N1N4, Alberta, Canada.
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
|January 17, 2016
Summary
Archaeologists can use ethnographic analogy, drawing on anthropology, to study past societies. This comparative method mirrors biology
Area of Science:
- Archaeological theory
- Anthropology
- Philosophy of science
Background:
- Ethnographic analogy, using anthropological data to reconstruct past societies, faces skepticism in archaeology.
- Archaeologists frequently express concerns or outright reject this practice, often in overly general terms.
Observation:
- The reasoning pattern in archaeological ethnographic analogy is identical to biology's comparative method.
- This comparative method is a well-established and robust inferential tool crucial for understanding the biological past.
Findings:
- Archaeology's use of comparative data mirrors biology's comparative method, a robust inferential framework.
- Biologists also encounter similar epistemic challenges when utilizing comparative data.
- Specific ethnographic analogies can be validated through local, empirically supported methods.
Implications:
- Validating ethnographic analogy strengthens archaeological interpretations of past human societies.
- Recognizing the shared inferential logic with biology can foster greater acceptance of ethnographic analogy in archaeology.
- This approach encourages rigorous, evidence-based application of comparative data in both disciplines.
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