mirror for man

is a metaphor indicating that anthropology studies the other not to satisfy an idle curiosity, but in order to see himself better in his infinite variety.

Anthropology holds up a great mirror to man and lets him look at himself in his infinite variety.' Studying primitives enables us to see ourselves better. Ordinarily we are unaware of the special lens through which we look at life. It would hardly be fish who discovered the existence of water. Students who had not gone beyond the horizon of their own society could not be expected to perceive custom which was the stuff of their own thinking. The scientist of human affairs needs to know as much about the eye that sees as the object seen. Anthropology holds up a great mirror to man and lets him look at himself in his infinite variety. This, and not the satisfaction of idle curiosity nor romantic quest, is the meaning of the anthropologist's work in nonliterate societies. (kluckhohn, mirror for man: 19 )

mirror for man, n.Definitions

mirror for man