Franz Boas (anthropologist)

Franz Boas was a pioneering anthropologist who challenged earlier ideas that cultures could be ranked or judged as superior or inferior. He emphasized that each culture's beliefs, practices, and language are shaped by its unique history and environment. Boas promoted cultural relativism, understanding cultures on their own terms, and championed thorough, detailed research—fieldwork—over broad generalizations. His work laid the foundation for modern anthropology, emphasizing diversity, context, and the importance of studying cultures objectively and respectfully.