Essays on Cultural Transmission

Description

This book brings together recent work by Maurice Bloch which explores the highly controversial territory between the cognitive and social sciences. The essays are of broad, theoretical interest and aim to combine naturalistic approaches to cognition with a recognition and respect for the cultural and historical specificity of ethnography. All the essays illustrate Bloch's characteristic approach to the relation between anthropology and cognitive science, where cognitive science is used to criticize anthropological assumptions concerning such key topics as religion, kinship, belief, ritual, symbolism and art.

Maurice Bloch is Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics. He is author and editor of numerous works in Anthropology, including Ritual, History and Power.

'It is evident that [Bloch's] approach finds its archaeological counterparts in cognitive and evolutionary archaeology and for anyone interested in these fields, this volume is highly recommended.' Felix Riede, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge 'Many students will love the essays like 'Commensality and poisoning', a Durkheimian classic with transatlantic overtones. Yet among teachers and professional anthropologies, by complementary reversal, the collection's success among students will give us all the more reason to re-read the author's original, own or collaborative, books. And that must be a good thing.' Gerd Baumann, University of Amsterdam 'Essays on Cultural Transmission is an inspiring volume that calls on anthropologists to tackle big questions about human life and society.' Jonathan A. Lanman, University of Oxford, Journal of Biosocial Science (2007) 'Overall, this book is really insightful. With its broad coverage, both of issues and theoretical perspectives, this book really gives good food for thought, not only for anthropological students but also for psychologists, sociologists and those interested in culture and human beings in general.' Sirojuddin Arif, University of Oxford, Journal of Biosocial Science (No 39, 2007) 'Overall, academics and students will find this book a particularly valuable introduction to the work of this controversial French-British anthropologist. The themes which have dominated his research are all represented here. Each essay is self-contained with its own set of references, including references to earlier writings of Bloch in these fields. There is a vry fine index at the back of this volume. The writing style is clear and accessible and the subject matter goes far beyond the subject boundaries of anthropology.' Social Anthropology (Issue 16.1, 2008)