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 requires identifying Harold Conklin's main areas of anthropological work, focusing on his ethnographic research and theoretical contributions.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Harold C. Conklin (1926-2016) was a prominent American anthropologist and a founder of ecological anthropology and ethnoscience.
- B. Ifugao: Conklin is best known for his extensive ethnographic research among the Ifugao people of Luzon, Philippines. His study of their rice terracing system is a landmark anthropological work.
- C. Indigenous agriculture: Conklin researched local knowledge systems, particularly concerning the environment. His work on Ifugao wet-rice cultivation and "Hanunóo Agriculture" are key studies of indigenous agricultural systems and ethnoecology.
- D. Economy: Studying indigenous agriculture inherently involves studying a society's economy—its production, distribution, and consumption of resources. Conklin provided an in-depth analysis of the Ifugao's economic life.
- A. Power: While power dynamics are part of ethnography, power is not Conklin's primary focus, unlike political anthropologists. He emphasized ecology, knowledge, and economy.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Conklin's main areas of focus are his work with the Ifugao (B), their indigenous agriculture (C), and the economic context of these practices (D). Thus, B, C, and D are the correct associated topics.