1. Human Biology and Human Welfare.
- Author
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WEITZ, CHARLES
- Abstract
This lecture concerns a major interest of Professor S. S. Sarkar: The contributions that Human Biology can make to human welfare. The value of the human biological perspective in anthropology is that it integrates knowledge of cultural and biological characteristics of human groups to explain how and why they vary in health, illness and well-being. Three examples of the current application of this perspective are considered: (1) the genetics of disease, (2) the impact of climate change, and (3) the effect of displacement due to climate and economic changes. Professor Sarkar thought Human Biology could be particularly effective in providing an understanding of population differences in health and disease. This continues to be an important interest of modern human biologists, and now includes a much more sophisticated knowledge of the genetic/genomic underpinnings of disease and disease distribution. Recent climate changes represent a challenge that was not significantly related to human welfare in Professor Sarkar's time. However, modern human biologists can provide insights into how different groups respond to the growing perils of extreme heat, extreme droughts and violent weather, and why particular groups and individuals may be more (or less) susceptible to climate-caused morbidity and mortality. Finally, climate and economic changes have created a growing number of "displaced" persons - groups and individuals who are forced to abandon their traditional homes. The research methods and perspectives of human biologists are ideally suited to the study of these groups, and thus can contribute significantly to what little is known about how conditions associated with their refugee status affects their health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022