Abstract
THERE exists a large proportion of anthropological data which admits of no clear-cut methodology but is usually handled according to inference and common sense logic. While this method may be soundly rational, the possibility of an enormous subjective element and fallacious logic is ever present and is demonstrated by the existence of the diffusion controversy. This controversy is made possible not only by the personal bias of the investigator but also by a confusion of the principles upon which the solution is based.
Read at the meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Dec. 28, 1928.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Steward, J.H. (1997). Diffusion and Independent Invention: A Critique of Logic. In: Lyman, R.L., O’Brien, M.J., Dunnell, R.C. (eds) Americanist Culture History. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5911-5_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5911-5_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-45540-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5911-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive