Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ANTHROPOCENTRIC
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pronounce
ANTHROPOCENTRIC:
Say it "AN thruh puh SEN trick."
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connect this word to others:
Etymologically speaking, if you hate people, you're m__anthropic.
If you love people, you're philanthropic.
And if you place people at the center of the universe, ignoring everything else, you're anthropocentric.
If you're part person, part wolf, you're lycanthropic. I can't help you with that, but I can tell you that all these terms derive from the Greek anthrÅpos, meaning "man, or human."
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
This word, "anthropocentric," is pretty new. The Germans were the first to coin it (as "anthropocentrisch"), and we formed an English version in 1855.
It has Greek roots that mean "human-centered."
Although it might sound like a nice thing to be anthropocentric, or human-centered, it's really not. We use this word to describe people and things that are full of the attitude that humans are the most important thing in the world, and that humans matter more than non-human things, like plants, animals, the environment, the universe, or gods.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "an anthropocentric idea," "their interpretation is anthropocentric."
Other forms:
The adverb is "anthropocentrically."
When you need a noun, I recommend using "anthropocentrism" because it's more common than the alternates: "anthropocentricism" and "anthropocentrality." But you can take your pick.
how to use it:
With Greek roots and five syllables, this word has a scholarly tone. Plus, it's judgmental: it's almost always an insult to call something anthropocentric. So use it with care.
You might talk about anthropocentric ideas and goals; anthropocentric views, positions, and interpretations; anthropocentric flaws or errors in reasoning; etc.
examples:
"Animals cannot vote but, actually...they do something pretty similar. Red deer decide to move en masse when about 60% of their herd stands up. Where and how could we begin granting political rights to animals? Presumably we will apply anthropocentric ideas of intelligence to animals and grant limited rights to, say, chimpanzees or dolphins first?"
— Patrick Barkham, The Guardian, 13 November 2019
"The sense that [the desert] is blank and empty is simply ignorance or anthropocentric arrogance. More than any landscape on the planet, the desert is aesthetically self-sufficient, independent of man, and it needs none of our improvement."
— Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 1 October 2016
has this page helped you understand "anthropocentric"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "anthropocentric" without saying "speciesist" or "inconsiderate of non-human things."
try it out:
Writing for The Guardian about shark attacks and how rare they actually are, Philip Hoare says this:
"Even to call them attacks is to assume an anthropocentric stance. The animals are merely behaving according to instinct. And they themselves are under threat, from us."
Talk about what he means: why does he argue that the term "shark attack" is, itself, anthropocentric? Would you agree or disagree, and why?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game this month is "Polygon of Predestination!"
With a high five to TheWordFinder.com for its puzzle generator, I'm Pat-Sajacking that spin-the-wheel game from TV. Apply your alliterative acumen to solve the puzzle. The category all month long is: "Beastly Blunders and Criminal Capers."
From the previous issue:
It's that extra-immature prank: ringing someone's doorbell, then dashing away before they answer, often in the wee hours of the night. The term dates to 1980, but the prank itself may have started in 19th century England (as Dictionary.com reports).
Try this one today:
Not sure yet? Need to see a bit more? Click here.
review this word:
A. ANIMALISTIC.
B. ENCYCLOPEDIC.
C. ENVIRONMENTALIST.
2. It carries a whiff of anthropocentrism, that phrase, "_____."
A. the dawn of a new day
B. the dawn of human history
C. the darkness before the dawn
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Etymologically speaking, if you hate people, you're m__anthropic.
This word, "anthropocentric," is pretty new. The Germans were the first to coin it (as "anthropocentrisch"), and we formed an English version in 1855.
Part of speech:
With Greek roots and five syllables, this word has a scholarly tone. Plus, it's judgmental: it's almost always an insult to call something anthropocentric. So use it with care.
"Animals cannot vote but, actually...they do something pretty similar. Red deer decide to move en masse when about 60% of their herd stands up. Where and how could we begin granting political rights to animals? Presumably we will apply anthropocentric ideas of intelligence to animals and grant limited rights to, say, chimpanzees or dolphins first?"
Explain the meaning of "anthropocentric" without saying "speciesist" or "inconsiderate of non-human things."
Writing for The Guardian about shark attacks and how rare they actually are, Philip Hoare says this:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
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