The Domestication of the Savage MindCurrent theories and views on the differences in the 'mind' of human societies depend very much on a dichotomy between 'advanced' and 'primitive', or between 'open' and 'closed', or between 'domesticated' and 'savage', that is to say, between one of a whole variety of 'we-they' distinctions. Professor Goody argues that such an approach prevents any serious discussion of the mechanisms leading to long-term changes in the cognitive processes of human cultures or any adequate explanation of the changes in 'traditional' societies that are taking place in the world around us. In this book he attempts to provide the framework for a more satisfactory explanation by relating certain broad differences in 'mentalities' to the changes in the means of communication, and specifically to the series of shifts involved in the development of writing. The argument is based upon theoretical considerations, as well as empirical evidence derived from recent fieldwork in West Africa and the study of a wide range of source material on the ancient societies of the Near East. |
Mit mondanak mások - Írjon ismertetőt
Nem találtunk ismertetőket a szokott helyeken.
Tartalomjegyzék
Evolution and communication | 1 |
Intellectuals in preliterate societies? | 19 |
Literacy criticism and the growth of knowledge | 36 |
Literacy and classification on turning the tables | 52 |
Whats in a list? | 74 |
Following a formula | 112 |
The recipe the prescription and the experiment | 129 |
The Grand Dichotomy reconsidered | 146 |
Notes to the text | 163 |
168 | |
Abbreviations | 174 |
175 | |
Más kiadások - Összes megtekintése
Gyakori szavak és kifejezések
abstract activity alphabetic analysis appear arrangement aspects associated attempt called century changes characteristics classification clearly closed cognitive communication complex concepts concerned context course critical cultures dealing dichotomy direction discussion distinction earlier early elements especially essentially examination example existence fact field formalisation formula give given graphic growth hand hence human ideas important individual influence intellectual involved kind knowledge language later learning less linguistic lists literacy literate look material means mind mode myth names nature objects observed occur opposition oral organisation particular possible present primitive problem provides question reason recipes recording reference relationship seen sense signs similar simply situation social societies specific speech structure suggest symbolic tends thinking thought tion traditional University writing written