The Integrative Potential of Contemporary Perspectives on the Nature/Culture Conceptual Relationship

Abstract

In this paper, I analyze and compare Maria Kronfeldner’s and Tim Ingold’s views on the conceptual relationship between nature and culture. I show that despite the differences, their views remain close particularly in terms of their integrative potential. The ultimate purpose of this examination is to lay the groundwork for further research on the problem of conceptual integration between sociocultural anthropology and evolutionary psychology. The paper comprises four main sections. First, I briefly explore the history of Darwinism to show how nature and culture were conceptualized within this framework. Second, I deal with Kronfeldner’s separationist stance and Ingold’s holistic perspective on the nature/culture conceptual relationship. Third, I discuss the implications of their views on the choice of research heuristics in the sciences that study human nature and cultures. While I interpret Ingold as supporting methodological integration, Kronfelder argues for a version of integrative pluralism. Lastly, I provide an outlook for further discussions on conceptual integration and integrative pluralism.

U ovom radu analiziram i upoređujem tvrdnje Marie Kronfeldner i Tima Ingolda o konceptualnom odnosu prirode i kulture. Pokazujem da uprkos razlikama, njihovi stavovi ostaju bliski, posebno u pogledu njihovog integrativnog potencijala. Krajnji cilj ovog istraživanja je postavljanje osnova za dalje ispitivanje problema konceptualne integracije između sociokulturne antropologije i evolucione psihologije. Rad se sastoji od četiri glavna dela. Prvo, ukratko istražujem istoriju darvinizma kako bih pokazala na koji način su priroda i kultura konceptualizovane unutar ovog teorijskog okvira. Drugo, bavim se separacionizmom koji zastupa Kronfeldner i Ingoldovom holističkom perspektivom kada je u pitanju konceptualni odnosa prirode i kulture. Treće, raspravljam o implikacijama njihovih teorija na izbor istraživačke heuristike u naukama koje proučavaju ljudsku prirodu i ljudske kulture. Dok tumačim Ingoldovu poziciju kao metodološki integracionizam, Kronfelder se zalaže za verziju integrativnog pluralizma. Na kraju, postavljam okvire za dalja istraživanja konceptualne integracije i integrativnog pluralizma.