The Problem of the Nature/Culture Relationship and the Possibility of Founding an Anthropology of the [Epistemological] Past

The basic contention of this article is the idea that nature & culture, as well as interpretations of their mutual relation, are not only a fundamental anthropological problem, but also a particular problem of anthropology as a scientific discipline, since the definition of its subject matter rests on a concept of culture radically opposed to nature. The conclusion is that by virtue of adhering to such an understanding of the peculiarly human, anthropology remained in the epistemological space of Western metaphysics. The roots & tradition of thinking about the nature-culture opposition are situated in ancient philosophy, as illustrated by an analysis of Plato's dialogue Kratil. From this, there derives a need to critically analyze & deconstruct the metaphysical epistemological foundations of anthropology. To do this, we must initiate the constitution of an anthropology of the (epistemological) past, so as to build an anthropological perspective toward our own culture, cognitive tradition, & conceptual configurations, in which anthropology as a science originated. The paper offers a more detailed analysis of Foucault's thought, since the key elements for the constitution of an anthropology of the (epistemological) past are offered in his archeology of knowledge. 18 References. Adapted from the source document.