Morality: An Anthropological Perspective

by Jarrett Zigon

Overview

Morality: An Anthropological Perspective provides the first account of anthropological approaches to the question of morality. By considering how morality is viewed and enacted in different cultures, and how it is related to key social institutions such as religion, law, gender, sexuality and medical practice, Morality takes a closer look at some of the most central questions of the morality debates of our time. The book combines theory with practical case studies for student use. Drawing on anthropological, philosophical and general social scientific literature, the book will be useful for both undergraduate students and researchers. Accessibly written, Morality provides a unique and wide-ranging perspective on morality, and will be essential reading for those interested in this important contemporary debate.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847886149
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	10/01/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	610 KB

About the Author

Jarrett Zigon is a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle/Saale, Germany, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Amsterdam.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1 Some Early Works in the Anthropology of Moralities Relativism Outline of Book Part I The Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of the Anthropological Studies of Morality 1 The Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Social Scientific Studies of Morality - From Plato and Aristotle to Durkheim, Weber, and Foucault Philosophical Theories of Morality The Roots of a Social Scientific Theory of Morality Some Final Words Part II Religion and Law 2 Religion Witchcraft Moral Consciousness and the Ethics of Self Change, Religion, and Moralities Some Final Words 3 Law State and Law Moral Economies, Inequality, and Property Human Rights Some Final Words Case Study 1 Moral Torment in Papua New Guinea Part III Sexuality, Gender, and Health 4 Gender and Sexuality Gender and Moralities Sexuality Family, Children, and Morality Some Final Words 5 Illness, Health, and Medicine The Morality of Biomedicine HIV/AIDS and Morality Narrative and Medical Encounters Bioethics Some Final Words Case Study 2 Morality and Women's Health in Post-Soviet Russia Part IV Language, Narrative, and Discourse 6 Language, Discourse, and Narrative Discourse, Performativity, and Moral Communication Narrative Some Final Words Case Study 3 Narratives of moral experience in Moscow Part V Closing 7 Some Closing Words Morality and Ethics References

Editorial Reviews

"An enterprising, highly useful, and wide-ranging survey of an important emerging field. - James Laidlaw, University of Cambridge The book is wide-ranging, informative, and provides a useful overview for those wishing to learn more about a key emerging field. - Alexandra Hall, Durham University With generous attention to a diverse range of ethnographies, the author reveals the promises and problems of morality in anthropological research. - Patrik Lundh, University of California at Santa Cruz Essential for any library serving a graduate department of anthropology." - J. Stauder, Choice Magazine

From the Publisher

With generous attention to a diverse range of ethnographies, the author reveals the promises and problems of morality in anthropological research.

Patrik Lundh