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Jump to navigationJump to searchCreated page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame '''Anthropomorphism''' is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human [[c...'
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'''Anthropomorphism''' is the attribution of [[human]] [[Attributes|characteristics]] to non-human [[creatures]] and [[beings]], [[phenomena]], material states and objects or abstract [[concepts]]. Examples include [[animals]] and plants and [[forces]] of [[nature]] such as winds, rain or the sun depicted as creatures with human [[motivation]] able to [[reason]] and [[converse]]. The term derives from the combination of the Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos), "human" and μορφή (morphē), "shape" or "form".
It is strongly associated with [[art]] and [[Narrative|storytelling]] where it has ancient roots. Most [[cultures]] possess a long-standing fable [[tradition]] with anthropomorphised animals as characters that can stand as commonly recognised types of human [[behavior]].
Anthropomorphic animals are often used as mascots for sports teams or sporting events, often represented by humans in costumes.
==In religion and mythology==
In [[religion]] and [[mythology]], anthropomorphism refers to the [[perception]] of a [[divine]] being or beings in human form, or the recognition of human qualities in these beings. Many mythologies are concerned with anthropomorphic [[deities]] who express human characteristics such as [[jealousy]], hatred, or [[love]]. The [[Greek]] gods, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus Zeus] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_(god) Apollo], were often depicted in human form exhibiting human traits. Anthropomorphism in this case is referred to as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropotheism anthropotheism].[1]
Numerous sects throughout [[history]] have been called anthropomorphites attributing such [[things]] as hands and eyes to God, including a sect in Egypt in the 4th century, and an heretical, 10th-century sect, who literally [[interpreted]] [[Book of Genesis]] chapter 1[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Genesis#Chapter_.1], verse 27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; [[male]] and [[female]] he created them."[2]
From the [[perspective]] of adherents of religions in which humans were created in the form of the divine, the [[phenomenon]] may be considered [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theomorphism theomorphism], or the giving of divine qualities to humans.
==Criticism==
The Greek philosopher [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophanes Xenophanes] (570–480 BC) said that "the greatest god" resembles man "neither in form nor in [[mind]]."[3] Anthropomorphism of [[God]] is rejected by [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]], which both believe that God is beyond human limits of [[physical]] comprehension. Judaism's rejection grew after the advent of [[Christianity]] until becoming codified in 13 principles of Jewish faith authored by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides Maimonides] in the 12th Century.
In his book ''Faces in the Clouds: A New Theory of Religion'', Stewart Elliott Guthrie theorizes that all religions are anthropomorphisms that originate due to the [[brain]]'s tendency to detect the [[presence]] or vestiges of other humans in natural [[phenomena]].[4]
==In literature and arts==
Anthropomorphism is a well established [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_device literary device] from early times. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesop%27s_Fables Aesop's Fables], a collection of short tales written by the ancient [[Greek]] [[citizen]] Aesop, make extensive use of anthropomorphism, in which [[animals]] and [[weather]] are used to illustrate simple [[moral]] lessons. The books [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchatantra Panchatantra] (The Five Principles) and The Jataka Tales employ anthropomorphised animals to illustrate various principles of life.
==References==
# "anthropotheism". Ologies & -Isms. The Gale Group, Inc.. 2008. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Anthropotheism. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
# This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain. Anthropomorphite.
# Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies V xiv 109.1–3
# Guthrie, Stewart (1995). Faces in the Clouds: A New Theory of Religion. Oxford University Press. p. 7. ISBN 0195098919. http://books.google.com/books?id=dZNAQh6TuwIC&dq=Faces+in+the+Clouds:+A+New+Theory+of+Religion&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=zkIxSvGuJ6GqtgeLlYzrBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPA7,M1.
==External links==
*[http://crl.ucsd.edu/~ahorowit/Encyclopedia-anthrop.pdf "Anthropomorphism" entry in the Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships] (Horowitz A., 2007)
*[http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/anthropomorphism.html "Anthropomorphism" entry in the Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight]
[[Category: Religion]]
[[Category: Mythology]]
[[Category: Languages and Literature]]
'''Anthropomorphism''' is the attribution of [[human]] [[Attributes|characteristics]] to non-human [[creatures]] and [[beings]], [[phenomena]], material states and objects or abstract [[concepts]]. Examples include [[animals]] and plants and [[forces]] of [[nature]] such as winds, rain or the sun depicted as creatures with human [[motivation]] able to [[reason]] and [[converse]]. The term derives from the combination of the Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos), "human" and μορφή (morphē), "shape" or "form".
It is strongly associated with [[art]] and [[Narrative|storytelling]] where it has ancient roots. Most [[cultures]] possess a long-standing fable [[tradition]] with anthropomorphised animals as characters that can stand as commonly recognised types of human [[behavior]].
Anthropomorphic animals are often used as mascots for sports teams or sporting events, often represented by humans in costumes.
==In religion and mythology==
In [[religion]] and [[mythology]], anthropomorphism refers to the [[perception]] of a [[divine]] being or beings in human form, or the recognition of human qualities in these beings. Many mythologies are concerned with anthropomorphic [[deities]] who express human characteristics such as [[jealousy]], hatred, or [[love]]. The [[Greek]] gods, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus Zeus] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_(god) Apollo], were often depicted in human form exhibiting human traits. Anthropomorphism in this case is referred to as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropotheism anthropotheism].[1]
Numerous sects throughout [[history]] have been called anthropomorphites attributing such [[things]] as hands and eyes to God, including a sect in Egypt in the 4th century, and an heretical, 10th-century sect, who literally [[interpreted]] [[Book of Genesis]] chapter 1[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Genesis#Chapter_.1], verse 27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; [[male]] and [[female]] he created them."[2]
From the [[perspective]] of adherents of religions in which humans were created in the form of the divine, the [[phenomenon]] may be considered [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theomorphism theomorphism], or the giving of divine qualities to humans.
==Criticism==
The Greek philosopher [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophanes Xenophanes] (570–480 BC) said that "the greatest god" resembles man "neither in form nor in [[mind]]."[3] Anthropomorphism of [[God]] is rejected by [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]], which both believe that God is beyond human limits of [[physical]] comprehension. Judaism's rejection grew after the advent of [[Christianity]] until becoming codified in 13 principles of Jewish faith authored by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides Maimonides] in the 12th Century.
In his book ''Faces in the Clouds: A New Theory of Religion'', Stewart Elliott Guthrie theorizes that all religions are anthropomorphisms that originate due to the [[brain]]'s tendency to detect the [[presence]] or vestiges of other humans in natural [[phenomena]].[4]
==In literature and arts==
Anthropomorphism is a well established [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_device literary device] from early times. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesop%27s_Fables Aesop's Fables], a collection of short tales written by the ancient [[Greek]] [[citizen]] Aesop, make extensive use of anthropomorphism, in which [[animals]] and [[weather]] are used to illustrate simple [[moral]] lessons. The books [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchatantra Panchatantra] (The Five Principles) and The Jataka Tales employ anthropomorphised animals to illustrate various principles of life.
==References==
# "anthropotheism". Ologies & -Isms. The Gale Group, Inc.. 2008. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Anthropotheism. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
# This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain. Anthropomorphite.
# Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies V xiv 109.1–3
# Guthrie, Stewart (1995). Faces in the Clouds: A New Theory of Religion. Oxford University Press. p. 7. ISBN 0195098919. http://books.google.com/books?id=dZNAQh6TuwIC&dq=Faces+in+the+Clouds:+A+New+Theory+of+Religion&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=zkIxSvGuJ6GqtgeLlYzrBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPA7,M1.
==External links==
*[http://crl.ucsd.edu/~ahorowit/Encyclopedia-anthrop.pdf "Anthropomorphism" entry in the Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships] (Horowitz A., 2007)
*[http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/anthropomorphism.html "Anthropomorphism" entry in the Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight]
[[Category: Religion]]
[[Category: Mythology]]
[[Category: Languages and Literature]]
