Beyond Rationalism: Rethinking Magic, Witchcraft and Sorcery

Published by Berghahn Books 2003

Beyond Rationalism

Rethinking Magic, Witchcraft and Sorcery

Edited by: Bruce Kapferer

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780857458551

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book seeks a reconsideration of the phenomenon of sorcery and related categories. The contributors to the volume explore the different perspectives on human sociality and social and political constitution that practices typically understood as sorcery, magic and ritual reveal. In doing so the authors are concerned to break away from the dictates of a western externalist rationalist understanding of these phenomena without falling into the trap of mysticism. The articles address a diversity of ethnographic contexts in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas.

Author / Editor information

Bruce Kapferer is Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen, Adjunct Professor at James Cook University and Honorary Professor at University College London.

Reviews

"…Kapferer’s introduction is an intellectual tour de force, perhaps the most important rethinking of the problems of rationality that underlie the study of witchcraft and sorcery since Evans-Pritchard." · American Anthropologist

"…teems with interesting theoretical insights, and all the chapters are particularly strong in delineating local meanings within the framework of broader processes." · African Studies Review

"... shows that the discourses on 'occult economies' are multiple ... The presented essays are an excellent illustration of their variety of forms and constitute a valuable contribution to their understanding." · Anthropos

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Outside All Reason: Magic, Sorcery and Epistemology in Anthropology Bruce Kapferer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 2 BEYOND VODOU AND ANTHROPOSOPHY IN THE DOMINICAN-HAITIAN BORDERLANDS Marit Brendbekken Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
Chapter 3 THE SMELL OF DEATH Theft, Disgust and Ritual Practice in Central Lombok, Indonesia Kari G. Telle Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	75
Chapter 4 SORCERY, MODERNITY AND THE CONSTITUTIVE IMAGINARY Hybridising Continuities Bruce Kapferer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105
Chapter 5 THE SORCERER AS AN ABSENTED THIRD PERSON Formations of Fear and Anger in Vanuatu Knut Rio Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	129
Chapter 6 SORCEROUS TECHNOLOGIES AND RELIGIOUS INNOVATION IN SRI LANKA Rohan Bastin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	155
Chapter 7 MALEFICENT FETISHES AND THE SENSUAL ORDER OF THE UNCANNY IN SOUTH-WEST CONGO René Devisch Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	175
Chapter 8 FANTASY IN PRACTICE Projection and Introjection, or the Witch and the Spirit-Medium Michael Lambek Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	198
Chapter 9 THE DISCOURSE OF ‘RITUAL MURDER’ Popular Reaction to Political Leaders in Botswana Ørnulf Gulbrandsen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	215
Chapter 10 STRANGE FRUIT The South African Truth Commission and the Demonic Economies of Violence Allen Feldman Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	234
Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	266
Authors Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	268
Subject Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	271

Language: English
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 284
Keywords: Theory and Methodology; Anthropology of Religion

eBook

Published: February 1, 2003
ISBN: 9780857458551