On the Order of Chaos

Social Anthropology and the Science of Chaos

Inbunden, Engelska, 2005

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Beskrivning

Over the past two decades, “chaos theory” – the perception of order previously hidden in phenomena of apparent randomness and disorder – has fundamentally transformed the natural sciences. In recent years, numerous scholars in the social sciences and humanities have attempted to adapt the insights of chaos theory to their studies of human cultural and social systems. Several of the world’s leading anthropologists, such as Roy Wagner, Marshall Sahlins, Marilyn Strathern, and Arjun Appadurai – have similarly drawn upon particular elements of chaos theory for their inspiration, but as yet there is no focused, comprehensive treatment of the applicability of chaos theory to anthropology’s distinctive ethnographic and cross-cultural materials. This edited volume fills the gap, with both accessible theoretical discussions of chaos theory applications in anthropology and detailed ethnographic and historical illustrations from Africa and Melanesia.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2005-10-01
Mått:152 x 229 x 21 mm
Vikt:535 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:296
Förlag:Berghahn Books
ISBN:9781845450236

Utforska kategorier

Antropologi inom Samhälle och politik

Mer om författaren

Mark S. Mosko is Professor of Anthropology in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University.

Recensioner i media

“Through a sequence of theoretically stimulating and ethnographically diverse contributions, the volume engages with ‘chaos models’ developed by mathematicians and natural scientists studying complex dynamic systems.” · Anthropological Forum"I have rarely seen such an excellent collection of articles. And it cannot be more timely. Within the covers of this volume we find some of the most original and brightest minds in anthropology today…this is a truly unique volume that will make a major and original contribution to anthropology and far beyond." · Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney

Innehållsförteckning

List of Figures and TablesList of ContributorsPreface and AcknowledgementsPrologue Marilyn StrathernChapter 1. Introduction: A (Re)Turn to Chaos: Chaos Theory, the Sciences, and Social Anthropological TheoryMark S. MoskoChapter 2. From Lévi-Strauss to Chaos and ComplexityJack MoravaChapter 3. Fractal Figurations: Homologies and Hierarchies in Kabre CultureCharles PiotChapter 4. “Pity” and “Ecstasy”: The Problem of Order and Differentiated Difference Across Kula SocietiesFrederick H. DamonChapter 5. Fractality and the Exchange of PerspectivesJosé Antonio Kelly Chapter 6. Fluids and Fractals in Rwanda: Order and ChaosChristopher C. Taylor Chapter 7. Peace, War, Sex, and Sorcery: Nonlinear Analogical Transformation in the Early Escalation of North Mekeo Sorcery and Chiefly PracticeMark S. MoskoChapter 8. Afterword: Order Is What Happens When Chaos Loses Its TemperRoy WagnerBibliographyContributorsIndex