History of Anthropology: Looking for cases of SCIENTISM in 19th century American anthropology and ethnology (specifically regarding studies of Native Americans)

by Party-Permission

For a project I'm looking for cases in which anthropologists and ethnologists commit scientistic fallacies in their studies regarding Native Americans in the 19th century.

Something that would work would be e.g. if someone were to measure the size of someone's skull and then say that due to specific measurements, this person must be very aggressive or friendly, etc.

I'm currently working my way through S.G. Morton's Crania Americana and this is very close, but I'm struggling finding what I'm looking for. The appendix written by George Combe is closer, with examples of physiognomy; the latter's A System of Phrenology also works.

I'm not asking anyone to do my homework, I'm looking for more sources that do this.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

restricteddata

Have you looked at George Stocking's Victorian Anthropology? It's sort of the best source for all things of this nature, and can point you to other possible sources. He does a great job of contextualizing many different approaches to "native" studies being done at this time period.

silverappleyard

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