Question

Harold Conklin, is associated with which of the following?
A. Power
B. Ifugao
C. Indigenous agriculture
D. Economy
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B and D only
• B. A, B and C only
• C. B, C and D only
• D. A, C and D only

Hint:

Associate Harold Conklin with three things: the Philippines (specifically the Ifugao), rice terraces (indigenous agriculture), and ethnoecology (the study of local environmental knowledge).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the main areas of work associated with the anthropologist Harold Conklin. This requires knowledge of his key ethnographic research and theoretical contributions.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Harold C. Conklin (1926-2016) was a leading American anthropologist, known as a founder of modern ecological anthropology and ethnoscience.
- B. Ifugao: Conklin is renowned for his extensive and meticulous ethnographic fieldwork among the Ifugao people in the mountains of Luzon, Philippines. His work on their complex system of rice terracing is a classic in anthropology.
- C. Indigenous agriculture: Conklin's research focused on understanding local systems of knowledge, particularly in relation to the environment. His work on Ifugao wet-rice cultivation and his earlier monograph "Hanunóo Agriculture" are landmark studies of indigenous agricultural systems and ethnoecology.
- D. Economy: The study of indigenous agriculture is fundamentally a study of that society's economy—how they produce, distribute, and consume resources. Conklin's work provided a deep analysis of the economic life of the Ifugao.
- A. Power: While social structure and power relations are part of any comprehensive ethnography, "Power" as a central theme is not what Conklin is primarily known for, unlike political anthropologists. His focus was more on ecology, knowledge, and economy.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Conklin's primary associations are his ethnographic work with the Ifugao (B), his focus on their indigenous agriculture (C), and the broader economic context of these practices (D). Therefore, B, C, and D are the correct associated topics.