Mathematical Anthropology

Abstract

Mathematical anthropology has as its raison d’être formally expressing models, ideas, and concepts developed by anthropologists so as to extend our understanding of human societies. When addressing cultural systems, the mathematical content of mathematical anthropology depends on which of two possible ways culture is understood to be constituted. One way considers culture to consist mainly of socially learned and transmitted behaviors, and the other way considers culture to be composed of shared idea systems that provide the framework through which behavior is formulated and articulated. The first way leads to statistical modeling of behavior patterns measured over an aggregate and to quantitative and descriptive accounts of cultural system revealed through patterns of behavior. The second way involves mathematical representations aimed at working out the structural organization and generative logic of cultural idea systems. Mathematical anthropology, as it is considered here, relates to culture in this latter sense, and thus involves using mathematical representations as a way to express and work out the structural implications of the concepts forming the cultural idea systems making up the cultural milieu of a group.