Setting the Anthropological Record Straight. A Critique of Marshall Sahlins' Characterization of Classic Theories of Causality in Anthropology

This article provides a critique of Marshall Sahlins' characterization of classic theories of causality in social anthropology. It demonstrates that Sahlins creates a caricature of the anthropological record that vastly oversimplifies the wealth of ideas concerning causality actually found in c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anthropos 2003-01, Vol.98 (2), p.489-497
Main Author: Shea, Jeanne L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Causality
Causation
Cultural anthropology
Cultural institutions
Ethnology
Linguistic anthropology
Literature
Material culture
Nature
Practical reason
Sources and methods
Theoretical and systematic contributions
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Summary:This article provides a critique of Marshall Sahlins' characterization of classic theories of causality in social anthropology. It demonstrates that Sahlins creates a caricature of the anthropological record that vastly oversimplifies the wealth of ideas concerning causality actually found in classic sources. In focusing on a critique of past references to the role of "nature" and material causation, Sahlins overlooks other forms of causality discussed in classic texts and fails to critically interrogate the category of "culture" or the role of cultural construction. Now that cultural constructionism is taking on the patina of assumed knowledge in anthropology, it is vital that we go beyond an "either nature or culture" approach to an exploration of the situations, extent, and ways in which both may contribute to the dynamics of human experience.
ISSN:0257-9774