Marvin Harris

Marvin Harris was an influential American anthropologist known for his work in cultural materialism, which emphasizes the material conditions of life—such as economy, environment, and technology—as fundamental to understanding human cultures. He argued that societal structures and beliefs are shaped by these practical factors rather than solely by ideas or symbols. His research covered various topics, including religion, food habits, and social organization. Harris's perspective challenged traditional anthropological theories and provided a framework for analyzing how human societies adapt to their environments, revealing the interconnectedness of culture, economy, and ecology.