While discussing the understanding of anthropology in the European continent, we have observed that the meaning of the term here is taken by physical anthropology only. A.L. Kroeber at one place has defined it in specific terms:
Physical anthropology is more immediately ‘natural’ and less ‘humanized’ in its concern. Anthropology, therefore, accepts and uses the general principles of biology.
Actually, physical anthropology is more elaborate and detailed than biology. For instance, when a zoologist tries to understand the biology of an animal, he never goes into the details of the length and breadth of the skull. Physical anthropology examines the skull in all its details, and the number of degrees two bones are twisted in, and the like.
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Thus, physical anthropology has a sort of specialization or sharpening of certain aspects of general biology. Still another speciality of physical anthropology is that it is concerned only with limited and restricted study of the human species. It never moves beyond the study of humans.
David Bidney has taken a similar position. Though an American anthropologist, he defined physical anthropology in terms of the origin, evolution and development of man.
He stresses on the comparative methodology employed by physical anthropology. For instance, in the classification of human races, comparative physiology has been employed by all physical anthropologists. Bidney observes:
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Man is the concern of that branch of anthropology known as physical anthropology which takes up such problems as the evolution of man and the comparative anatomy of races.
If we analyze the whole kit of definitions of physical anthropology, we would be able to draw the following characteristics of physical anthropology:
(1) It is a natural science.
(2) Its nature is organic and physical.
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(3) It draws from the general principles of biology, zoology and other natural sciences.
(4) It depends on heredity and the doctrines of cell development and evolution.
(5) It utilizes the methods of laboratory and experimental conditions.
(6) It has a limited field of studying only one species, that is, man.
(7) It studies all varieties of men, different races, sexes and ages, and uses predominantly comparative methods.