Sunalei’s Post

Authoritarian leaders come first for the social scientists, but eventually for everyone else. “The American Anthropological Association is horrified, but not surprised, that the first scholar with tenure to be fired for an issue concerning academic freedom is an anthropologist. Anthropology, as a discipline, is both demanding and transformative. At the heart of anthropological knowledge is open inquiry that illuminates the patterns and processes of culture, past and present. We push boundaries and engage with difficult and often controversial subjects which challenge us all—students, faculty, and society alike—to think critically about our world. That process can be uncomfortable, but it is also essential to the academic enterprise and to the pursuit of knowledge. We recognize the challenges inherent in navigating such complex issues, but this is precisely why it is so important to protect spaces where inquiry can flourish.” https://lnkd.in/em9memsQ

Ever pondered on the profound unity that underlies our human story? 🤔 Our new blog post takes you on an intriguing ride across the realms of common origin, its impact on contemporary education, and how it infuses respect and confidence among learners. 📚 Our research uncovers the fascinating truth of our shared human roots, backed by evidence from literature, anthropology, and global cultural practices. 🌍 Did you know that the uniform use of the solar calendar across different civilizations suggests our shared intellectual lineage? 🗓️ It's a testament to our collective wisdom and shared ancient knowledge base. We further dive into the works of early Western writers like Homer, Hesiod, or Aesop, who painted the picture of a "Golden Age," 🌞 an era of peace, unity, and harmony, echoing our shared human narrative. Modern anthropology adds strength to this narrative, providing a plausible theory of migration from a shared source - Africa, or "Alkebulan" as it was known, meaning "mother of mankind" or "garden of Eden". 🌍🧬 Our exploration also leads us to the realm of mathematics, where principles of probability theory and differential equations bolster the theory of common origin. 🧮 Understanding our common origins, we believe, can revolutionize our education systems. 🏫 It brings to light that the potential within each individual is relatively equal, challenging the outdated notions of some groups being inherently less capable. It’s time we foster an educational environment that nurtures confidence and emphasizes equity. Join us in this enlightening journey of rediscovering our shared past and its implications on the future of education. Dive in here! 🎓👇 https://buff.ly/3JBT88s

My latest article in Practicing Anthropology- an autobiographical account of how polarization has devastated higher education. If you're not an SFAA member, or your institution doesn't have access to the journal, the link to my PDF is in the comments below.

📚 Ready for a profound exploration of our shared human story? Our latest blog post takes you on an incredible journey, shedding light on the ancient principle of common origin and its implications for contemporary education. 🌍 Ever wondered about our common human origins? Our research suggests we all originate from a singular source, supported by evidence from literature, anthropology, and global cultural practices. Did you know that the widespread adoption of the solar calendar across civilizations indicates our shared intellectual heritage? 📅 This is but one of many shared aspects of our rich, collective past. We delve into the works of early Western writers like Homer, Hesiod, or Aesop, who introduced the concept of a "Golden Age," 🌞 a time of peace, harmony, and unity, reflecting a deeply shared human narrative. 🧬 Modern anthropology strengthens this narrative, suggesting a common source from which all humans have migrated. This theory supports the idea of a unified human group that, despite its expansion, maintains strong intrinsic links. Let's not forget the "Alkebulan" 🌍, believed to be one of the oldest names for Africa, meaning "mother of mankind" or "garden of Eden" in some interpretations. Our exploration doesn't stop at history. We also delve into the mathematics of commonality, 🧮 using principles from probability theory and differential equations to support the theory of common origin. Lastly, we explore what this all means for modern education. 🏫 Recognizing our shared origins can build confidence among learners, creating an educational environment that nurtures and emphasizes equity. Join us in this enlightening journey into our shared past and its implications for the future of education. Click the link below to learn more! 🎓👇 https://buff.ly/3JBT88s

I wanted to understand more about how human experience creates culture and vice versos, so I completed this course with University of Oxford, Department for Continuing Education on #SocialAnthropology. I'm not sure that I came away with any answers, but certainly more complex, beautiful questions to contemplate, on what it means to be human and how powerful collective consciousness is. #oxfordlifelonglearning #lifelonglearning

How does colonial thinking influence modern biology? In the past, biologists and anthropologists thought that humans could be subdivided into races. Some of these races, they believed, were more civilized and 'progressed' than others, and their views were eagerly used to legitimize colonial oppression. Nowadays, scientists agree that race is a biological myth. On February 21, philosopher of science Dr Abigail Nieves Delgado (UU) explains how the colonial way of thinking still echoes in modern biology and anthropology. How are Indigenous peoples idealized and exoticized in modern science? Will you join us? #StudiumGenerale #UU #UtrechtUniversity #Utrecht #ModernScience https://lnkd.in/ehfGX3j4

The Search for the First Americans: Science, Power, Politics - OA PDF: https://lnkd.in/gf536-_F Who were the First Americans? Where did they come from? When did they get here? Are they the ancestors of modern Native Americans? These questions might seem straightforward, but scientists in competing fields have failed to convince one another with their theories and evidence, much less Native American peoples. The practice of science in its search for the First Americans is a flawed endeavor, Robert V. Davis tells us. His book is an effort to explain why. Most American history textbooks today teach that the First Americans migrated to North America on foot from East Asia over a land bridge during the last ice age, 12,000 to 13,000 years ago. In fact, that theory hardly represents the scientific consensus, and it has never won many Native adherents. In many ways, attempts to identify the first Americans embody the conflicts in American society between accepting the practical usefulness of science and honoring cultural values. Davis explores how the contested definition of “First Americans” reflects the unsettled status of Native traditional knowledge, scientific theories, research methodologies, and public policy as they vie with one another for legitimacy in modern America. In this light he considers the traditional beliefs of Native Americans about their origins; the struggle for primacy—or even recognition as science—between the disciplines of anthropology and archaeology; and the mediating, interacting, and sometimes opposing influences of external authorities such as government agencies, universities, museums, and the press. Fossil remains from Mesa Verde, Clovis, and other sites testify to the presence of First Americans. What remains unsettled, as The Search for the First Americans makes clear, is not only who these people were, where they came from, and when, but also the very nature and practice of the science searching for answers.

Reflections on Liberal Education Anthropology precedes Pedagogy, but as to whether this procession is dutifully attained, Philosophy must tell us, for it is in the interest of Philosophy to 'see' what cannot be 'seen' especially if the unseen entails processes. Fundamentals of of Philosophy of Education hold that Pedagogy is a function of the human species, therefore if it is NOT a predicate of humanness then it is a wasteful engagement. Teaching and learning therefore can only take place when the anthropological question "What is man?" is meaningfully answered. The anthropological quest is however ordered by the lens of metaphysics employed to investigate the quiddity of man. The lens can be static, in which man is perceived as a settled phenomenon, or, it ca be liberal in which man is conceived as an existentially unsettled entity. The great Philosophers: Socrates of Athens , Jesus of Nazareth, Paulo Freire of Recife and a dozen others have taught us that man thrives in freedom, because he is intrinsically free to manifest himself through thought. Therefore a pedagogy that does not inculcate free thinking is alien to man , and if it is alien to man, it is not a pedagogy. Rather it is a programming process. Question: Are you a pedagogue or a programmer?

🌱 Welcome to a workshop on "Expertise and politics in climate change knowledge " organized by the NSU | Nordic Summer University study circle "Act, React, and Reflect: Meta-perspectives on Climate Change Knowledge" at the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, in collaboration with the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History. 📌 Invited are papers at any stage of completion broadly addressing the role of experts and politics in the knowledge production, policy formulation and decision-making surrounding climate change and sustainability transitions. • Are there some issues that are to be decided by experts and some through deliberation? • How is expertise established and recognized, or contested? • How has expert opinion been implemented (or not) in concrete cases? • What is expertise anyway, in particular climate- or sustainability expertise? We welcome empirical or theoretical papers discussing these or related issues from any discipline concerned with knowledge production in sustainability, including but not limited to sociology, philosophy, anthropology, STS, and cultural studies, and we especially welcome contributions from practitioners who are interested in reflecting on their own practices. 📅 Important dates • Deadline for submission of abstracts: 29 November 2024 • Notification of acceptance: 6 December 2024 • Deadline for registration: 10 January 2025 • Deadline for submission of full papers: 31 January 2025 • Workshop: 27-28 February 2025 📌 More details here: https://lnkd.in/dSVY5WjZ

March 2 | Saturday | 4:00pm RSVP: http://surl.li/qzwnn This session will be a discussion around the themes in the anthology Liberalism and Its Encounters in India: Some Interdisciplinary Approaches (Routledge 2023). Exploring multiple trajectories of liberalism in India, it moves away from traditional approaches and draws upon resources from other disciplines – those subjects which some might think don’t strictly fall under political science or theory – like anthropology, literature, philosophy — to critically engage with the condition of late capitalist modernity in India.