Alexander Goldenweiser

Alexander Aleksandrovich Goldenweiser ( – July 6, 1940) was a Russian-born U.S. anthropologist and sociologist.

Biography Alexander Alexandrovich Goldenweiser was born in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1880. He emigrated to the United States in 1900.

In addition to many books, articles, and reviews, Goldenweiser taught at the following institutions: Lecturer, Anthropology, Columbia University, 1910–1919; New School for Social Research, NY, 1919–1926; Lecturer, Rand School of Social Science, 1915–1929; Professor, Thought and Culture, Oregon State System of Higher Education, Portland Extension, 1930–1938; Visiting professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1937–1938; Professor, University of Washington, 1923; Visiting professor of sociology, Reed College, 1933–1939.

Among his other contributions, Goldenweiser introduced the term "involution" to social sciences research. It was applied by Clifford Geertz in his Agricultural Involution.

He died on July 6, 1940, in Portland, Oregon.

Works Totemism; An analytical study, 1910 Early civilization, An Introduction to Anthropology, 1922 Robots or Gods, 1931 Anthropology, An Introduction to Primitive Culture, 1937 History, psychology and culture, 1937