A Genealogy of Method
Anthropology’s Ancestors and the Meaning of Culture
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Anthem Press
Published:16th Jul '24
Should be back in stock very soon
This insightful volume investigates the concept of culture and anthropology's role in defining it, as explored in A Genealogy of Method.
This volume delves into the intricate meaning of culture and the pivotal role that anthropology plays in its definition. By examining the historical evolution of the discipline and the methodology of ethnography, A Genealogy of Method poses the question of whether the concept of culture can be effectively reclaimed, particularly within a framework that recognizes the importance of history, change, and diversity. Through this exploration, the book seeks to clarify how culture can be understood in contemporary contexts.
The study of culture prompts essential questions about its essence and significance. Anthropology's mission is to navigate the complex relationship between the human experience and its cultural manifestations. By tracing the roots of ethnography and its connections to other fields such as philology, history, and social relations, A Genealogy of Method critically examines whether modern anthropology is finally poised to articulate a coherent definition of culture, after over a century of inquiry.
Ultimately, this volume provides a comprehensive exploration of culture as it is interpreted through the lens of ethnography in social anthropology. It invites readers to engage with the ongoing conversation about culture's relevance and adaptability in a rapidly changing world, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the dynamics of human societies.
“This is a bold book, daring to revive but also to reconsider the culture concept within anthropology. Moving with great clarity across American, British, French and German intellectual debates, Hausner provides a powerful response to two questions of central importance to the discipline: do we need to reconceptualize our notion of culture; and if so, how? The result is a work that is historically informed yet utterly timely.” — Simon Coleman, Chancellor Jackman Professor, University of Toronto
“This is a very welcome and insightful attempt to restart a conversation that was central to anthropology not so very long ago.” — Michael Lambek, University of Toronto
“A compelling read and deft exploration of anthropology’s core contributions via a series of encounters with its ancestors. Sophisticated and subtle, the argument is thoroughly persuasive—we should reclaim anthropology’s tools, and indeed, today need them more than ever. To read is to rekindle and recommit!” — Julie Hemment, Professor & Chair, Department of Anthropology, UMass Amherst
“A Genealogy of Method gets readers to think deeply about the approaches to cross-cultural comparison that became influential in German and Anglophone anthropologies and the reasons why they formed into distinct traditions ––or, at times, managed to mutually shape each other. This highly accessible book highlights in particular the dialogues between anthropology, comparative religion, philology, and history from the nineteenth century to the 1970s.” — Dr. Katherine Swancutt, Reader in Social Anthropology, King’s College London
ISBN: 9781839986482
Dimensions: 229mm x 153mm x 6mm
Weight: 454g
92 pages