The Anthropology of Magic (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781845206703)

Magic is arguably the least understood subject in anthropology today. Exotic and fascinating, it offers us a glimpse into another world but it also threatens to undermine the foundations of anthropology due to its supposed irrational and non-scientific nature. Magic has thus often been 'explained away' by social or psychological reduction. The Anthropology of Magic redresses the balance and brings magic, as an aspect of consciousness, into focus through the use of classic texts and cutting-edge research. Suitable for student and scholar alike, The Anthropology of Magic updates a classical anthropological debate concerning the nature of human experience. A key theme is that human beings everywhere have the potential for magical consciousness. Taking a new approach to some perennial topics in anthropology - such as shamanism, mythology, witchcraft and healing - the book raises crucial theoretical and methodological issues to provide the reader with an engaging and critical understanding of the dynamics of magic.Join the live discussion on Facebook

Author: Susan Greenwood
ISBN-10: 1845206703
ISBN-13: 9781845206703
Publisher: Routledge
Language: English
Published: 11/01/2009
Pages: 172
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.89lbs
Size: 9.39h x 6.79w x 0.65d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 12/01/2010