«A Concise Guide to the Knowledge of Human Tribes, with an Appended Outline of the Principal Characteristics Distinguishing Humanity from Other Animals» by A.L. Lovetsky. From the History of Anthropological Classifications

Abstract

Introduction. The article presents an analysis of the work by Professor A.L. Lovetsky of Moscow University, which outlines two classifications of human races developed by the French physicians A.C. Soserott and P.P. Broc. Both classifications reflect the state of scientific knowledge in the field of anthropological diversity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, characterized by a Eurocentric perception of non-European peoples. The study of the structure and content of A.L. Lovetsky's work is of interest to historians of science and specialists in the field of ethnic anthropology.

Materials and methods. The materials for the study included: the original work by A.L. Lovetsky; publications dedicated to his life and scientific legacy; materials from print and electronic sources containing information about A.C. Soserott and P.P. Broc. The application of the comparative-historical method allowed for a comparison of the features of the two classifications and the correspondence of their subdivisions to modern major and minor races.

Results. The Sosserotte tables distinguish four tribes or races, whose characteristics and smaller subdivisions allow us to draw parallels with some of the large and small races of modern classifications. Broc's classification is largely similar to Soserott's, differing from it in its evaluation of anthropological differences from an aesthetic point of view and a generally more positive tone in its descriptions and characteristics. Broc's presentation is free-flowing, highlighting the data he deems most relevant and significant. The features of the terminology reveal the methodological imperfection of early 19th-century classifications, with their blurred boundaries between biological and social concepts. The concluding section of A.L. Lovetsky's book contains a number of propositions that remain relevant even for modern anthropological courses.

Conclusion. The book by A. L. Lovetsky serves as a guide for students, physicians, and naturalists in the field of anthropological classifications, which was new for the early 19th century. Lovetsky not only translated but also adapted and supplemented the materials of Soserott and Broc, creating one of the first educational manuals on the classification of human anthropological diversity. The work of A.L. Lovetsky holds significant historical interest for modern specialists in the field of ethnic anthropology and the history of university education.

Acknowledgements. The study was conducted under the state assignment of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

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