Man's physical evolution was a source of controversy in the past and is now a fascinating journey into prehistoric tines thanks in part to the archeological and physical anthropological findings over the last century. However, it was due to Charles Darwin's initial studies and research and eventual development of the evolution theory that directed and focused the ensuing scientific studies.
The evolution of how man lived, how he developed technology and social structures, among other elements, is another facet of anthropology that is termed "culture." And, just as Darwin's theories were criticized, now Marvin Harris, in Cultural Materialism the Struggle for a Science of Culture (1980), ignites his own controversy as he attempts to take the lead in classifying cultural anthropology under the broader term of "cultural materialism," and at the same time making it the leading scientific theory of cultural evolution. The purpose of this paper will be to critique Harris' work, including reviewing the book's content, and analyzing the strong and weak points of his arguments as well as the overall theoretical significance of the work.
Harris, an anthropologist who alternated his professional career between the classroom (Columbia University) and the field, became disenchanted with the fragmented theories regarding culture that were being produced by his peers. In response, he wrote The Rise of Anthropological Theory: A History of Theories of Culture published in 1968. As part of this book, Harris took a systematic review of the development of anthropological ideas and concluded that anthropology had neglected the practical and mundane aspects of social life. To do this, the author developed the term "cultural materialism," and thus threw himself in the middle of a controversy that generated "Cultural Materialism" and the clarification of this new term.
Harris' 1980 publication was designed to not only answer his critics but e...