What concept encompasses the study of the entire human experience, including biology, society, and culture?

Holism is a foundational concept in anthropology that emphasizes the interconnectedness of different aspects of human existence, including biology, society, and culture. This perspective promotes the idea that to fully understand human experiences, one must consider all facets of life rather than isolating specific elements.

In anthropology, a holistic approach integrates various dimensions such as history, environment, social structures, and biological factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and societies. This contrasts with more reductionist approaches that might focus on singular variables. By examining the entire human experience through a holistic lens, anthropologists can appreciate the complexities and nuances of cultural practices and social interactions.

The other concepts listed have distinct focuses that do not encompass the full range of the human experience as holism does. Ethics pertains to moral principles guiding research and practice within anthropology, cultural materialism focuses primarily on material conditions and economic factors as determinants of culture, and unilineal evolution relates to a specific theory about the progression of societies over time. None of these approaches provide the broad, inclusive perspective that holism offers in understanding the entirety of human life.