“The 1^st Seminar on Transdisciplinary Approaches to Area Studies: Application and Mis-Application of Ecological Theory in Anthropology”

March 25^th 5p.m. ASAFAS Hakubi-kan Seminar room.

Purpose of this research:

The call for integration of natural, social and human sciences is at the foundation of the raison d’etre of ASAFAS. Yet, we need to address the issue more seriously. If a social scientist refers to production and distribution of primary products, or if a natural scientist makes some non-committal remark regarding social and cultural aspects, that does not constitute transdisciplinary approaches to area studies.

We aim for a theoretical integration, rather than simply seeking a middle point in the object of our research. Participants will repeat presentations on related topics, and finally aim to write up a paper.

In the 1^st Seminar, Momose (ASAFAS) presented on “Application and Mis-Application of Ecological Theory in Anthropology”. He critically discussed the following papers from the Annual Review of Anthropology, and made suggestions based on ecological theory.

1) I. Scoones NEW ECOLOGY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: What Prospects for a Fruitful Engagement? Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 1999, Vol. 28: 479-507

2) Paul E. Little ENVIRONMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISMS IN ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Facing a New Millennium Annu. Rev. Anthropol.