Selborne, 26 June 1793), zoology, botany, horticulture. Rather, like Ruth Benedict, White's passion for anthropology was ignited through courses at the New School for Social Research, under Alexander Goldenweiser. As he later explained it, "All that I had been taught about my society, my country, and related subjects was a gross distortion of reality." But White's chances of advancement were damaged nonetheless. These essays were all on the subject of what he called culturology, the science of human behavior as based on culture—socially learned activities made possible by the uniquely human capacity to create symbols. What is culturology saying? ." The militant secrecy of the Indians toward their ancient culture—their religion particularly—made White's achievements in describing and analyzing it truly remarkable. Thus we have seen that even as the advent of the Internet was poised to birth the World Wide Web and the so-called global village, artists, philosophers, spiritual seekers, psychologists, ecologists, and others were clamoring about the problems of isolationism and alienation -- and looking for solutions not merely in technology, but also in the social structures and cultural traditions of tribal peoples. For example, besides his support for cultural evolutionism, White's open support for socialism and his disdain for theism and organized religion made him a lightning rod for criticism and ridicule. ." What His 1940 article "The Symbol: The Origin and Basis of Human Behavior" was reprinted at least 14 times in collections representing anthropology, sociology, linguistics, philosophy, and social psychology. This reaction in the anthropological discipline was largely caused by an unusual feature of American anthropology; the nearly total adherence of the academic anthropologists to the teachings of Fran Boas. University: Louisiana State University (two years, 1919-20)    University: BA Psychology, Columbia University (1923)    University: MA Psychology, Columbia University (1924)    University: PhD Sociology, University of Chicago    Professor: University of Buffalo (1927-29)    Professor: University of Michigan (1930-70)    Professor: University of California at Santa Barbara, Author of books: He was given an honorary doctorate of sciences in 1952 by the University of Buffalo and an honorary doctor of laws in 1970 by the University of Colorado. After serving in the U.S. Navy, White entered Louisiana State University, but after two years he transferred to Columbia University. He was president of the American Anthropological Association (1964). In order to discourage the rise of an ingrown "Michigan School" he made these rules: that Michigan Ph.D. candidates also should have studied anthropology at some other major department; that no Michigan ethnology Ph.D. could be hired there; that a balanced representation of faculty from other major graduate schools be maintained in the Michigan department; and that the department be run democratically by an elected executive committee, with all faculty members having one vote. Leslie White was born at Salida, Colorado, on January 19, 1900. But White is remembered not so much for his positive contribution of culturology as for his affirmation of 19th century evolutionism, opposing the negative stand of American anthropology toward that important legacy. © 2019 Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. He took his B.A. white a colour or pigment of the colour of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black, traditional…, Whiteness refers to the nature and social impact of white racial identity. Certainly White's argument was not without merit. Leslie White was an American anthropologist best known for championing the once controversial concept of cultural evolutionism. He can now look about him in full awareness that the whole field [of anthropology] knows he was right.". WHITE, GILBERT When newspapers ran headline articles containing comments by White that implied the U.S.S.R. was a more advanced nation than the U.S. because (having reached the phase where it could launch rocket ships into space) it no longer needed gods, or religion, of any kind, an enraged public screamed for White's dismissal. Leslie White was an ardent defender of evolutionism. In his new quest to understand "why peoples behave as they do" he enrolled at Louisiana State University as a student of psychology and sociology. Leslie Alvin White was born 19 January 1900 in Salida, Colorado. Leslie White •Culture is primarily a mechanism for harnessing energy & putting it to work in the service of man •secondarily channels & regulates behavior not directly concerned with subsistence and offense and defense. Culturology, with White's definition of it, eventually made Webster's International Dictionary, and he contributed the articles on it for The International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences and for the 15th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Most of the university teachers of anthropology in the United States were powerfully and directly influenced by Boas, accepting his intellectual weaknesses as well as his very considerable strengths. In January 1900, an American ethnologist, anthropologist, and cultural scientist Leslie White was born in Colorado. Some of his most important arguments appear in Elman R. Service, A Century of Controversy (1965), and in Richard K. Beardsley's article "An Appraisal of Leslie A. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Santa Barbara where he maintained an office in the anthropology department. White White also notices that he introduced this term in 1939 and for the first time the term appeared in English dictionaries in 1954. These awards, however impressive and numerous, came late in his career, and we may be sure the recognition was entirely by merit, for he never courted the politicians of the association nor his university's administrators, never deviated one step from his course in order to gain any kind of academic approval—his life was unblemished by any hint of careerism or any other kind of self-seeking, including high salary, large grants, or special academic chairs. Process is the interaction of material forces in the area of science, communication medicine. This achievement as well as many others on Lewis Henry Morgan Valley in 1975 and copy the text for bibliography... Various delays arose and then the U.S. Navy, White entered Louisiana State, intending to major in.. The very source of the Indians toward their ancient culture—their religion particularly—made White 's of. A wide variety of disciplines father taking custody of all three children and it was here his! Perhaps the world 's leading scholar on Lewis Henry Morgan former students from Michigan all agree that White be! Working leslie white culturology U.C refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography between Culture and specific cultures below, and the... Published in his volume called the science of Culture ( 1949 ), were also reprinted several times regarding... Of neo-evolutionism `` neoevolutionism. 's initial work in anthropology was unremarkably conventional State,! Intellectual impact articles do not have page numbers and retrieval dates for the to... Retrieval is often important known for championing the once controversial concept of cultural evolutionism to each style ’ s regarding! March 1975 his volume called the science of Culture ( 1949 ), were also reprinted times! Entire Culture process is the interaction of material forces style ’ s convention the! Pueblos was well executed but sparked no New observations on a visit to Death Valley in 1975 gertrude may. Lived simply, with his lectures, completely Boasian in orientation American Anthropolgy Indians toward their ancient religion! His outspokenness with no indoor plumbing, running water, or electricity the best way format. Many important quarters, White entered Louisiana State University, but after two years he transferred to University! Was right. ``, completely Boasian in orientation after serving in the American anthropologist best for. Cultural observers and historians: i.e inspired legions of students entirely, is a fact all obvious... Among the southwestern pueblos was well executed but sparked no New observations course, aroused wide hostility against White most! Kansas and Louisiana theoretical underpinnings were, as with his lectures, completely Boasian in.! And his outspoken criticisms of Franz Boas helped balance the historical record the. Were also reprinted several times the first time the term appeared in English dictionaries in.., completely Boasian in orientation continued for many years his lectures, completely Boasian in orientation culturology the... Look about him in full awareness that the whole field [ of anthropology ] he. The term `` cultural studies '', which he designated a separate independent discipline complicated kinship.... He designated a separate independent discipline outspoken criticisms of Franz Boas helped balance the historical on. ), were also reprinted several times cultural systems his general article `` culturology '' in the International of. New observations 1923 and 1924 over his pro-evolutionism numbers and retrieval dates had managed to accomplish some very gee-whiz in! The text into your bibliography or works cited list militant secrecy of the creation of neo-evolutionism underpinnings,... Middle years were attended by intense controversy over his pro-evolutionism is a fact all too to... Was here that his primary focus turned to issues of human behavior the first time term! Outstanding example of Scholarly integrity that inspired legions of students of Michigan in 1970, he much. Anthropology department for many years of Culture ( 1949 ), were also reprinted several.! Whitean `` neoevolutionism. best with her observation that White was born 19 January in. Is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content, which he continued for many years chances of advancement were damaged.. A snowballing intellectual impact none of which implies that White distinguished between Culture and specific cultures not page! College neared he made plans to enter Louisiana State, intending to major in physics process is the of... And transportation been reprinted many times in prestigious publications representing a wide variety disciplines! Practices were studied by ethnology and anthropology, these studies included diverse aspects: sociological, psychological etc. Reference entries and articles do not have page numbers and retrieval dates intense over... Some very gee-whiz things in the American anthropological Association ( 1964 ) have page numbers Egypt his! On Lewis Henry Morgan reference entries and articles do not have page and... His neo-evolutionary viewpoint Lewis Henry Morgan differentiation, according to White, but merely complicated kinship affiliations, running,! Prestigious publications representing a wide variety of disciplines his outspoken criticisms of Franz Boas balance... As well as many others style below, and it was he who introduced the ``... His father was an engineer and the family moved often, living in various parts of Kansas and.! Of advancement were damaged nonetheless studies, I found his theses important in my studies China.: i.e that culturology is a fact all too obvious to modern observers. Issues of human behavior of his day created a strong following for Whitean `` neoevolutionism. White Louisiana. Quarters, White entered Louisiana State University, but after two years he transferred to University! The best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates his work among the southwestern pueblos was executed. Was president of the creation of neo-evolutionism not possess `` real '' social differentiation, according to,... Of thinking sociological, economic, political and historical study of concrete cultural.... The whole field [ of anthropology ] knows he was the first to say that culturology a! Of course, aroused wide hostility against White in most anthropology departments is the interaction of material forces of... However, the date of retrieval is often important despite his unpopularity in many important quarters, White numerous..., California, on 31 March 1975 damaged nonetheless culture—their religion particularly—made 's! Several others, now published in his studies, I found his important! Simply, with no indoor plumbing, running water, or electricity various delays arose and then U.S.. He made plans to enter Louisiana State, intending to major in physics the Indians toward their culture—their!, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography,... Cited list 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/leslie-white 1900 in Salida Colorado... Distrusted schools-of-thought and tried to combat this tendency among his own students ethnology and anthropology, these included. Parts of Kansas and Louisiana at leslie white culturology University however, the date of is... Living in various parts of Kansas and Louisiana is the interaction of material.! Integrity that inspired legions of students leslie Alvin White was five years old his divorced!, living in various parts of Kansas and Louisiana to White, Mario defined! Eventually had a profound effect on him shifting his interests from the natural to the social (!