The Anthropology of Magic

by Susan Greenwood

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857850799
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	11/01/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	312 KB

About the Author

Susan Greenwood is Visiting Senior Research Fellow, University of Sussex

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Section 1 Explaining Magic

1 Mystical Mentality 19

2 Participation: A Key to Understanding Magic 29

3 Magical Connections and Associations 45

Section 2 The Experience of Magic

4 Magical Consciousness 63

5 A Mythological Language of Magic 75

Section 3 Practical Magic

6 Webs of Beliefs 97

7 Magic in Everyday Life 111

Section 4 Working with Magic

8 The Nature of Reality 131

9 'Not Only, but Also': A New Attitude toward Science 145

Index 161

Editorial Reviews

An interesting read and a timely contribution to theories of magic, as it takes a fresh and contemporary approach to the much maligned topic of magic. The author shows us that magic is a human experience which deserves more thorough investigation. - Journal of Contemporary Religion

From the Publisher

The Anthropology of Magic is an exceptional book. Written by an ethnographer who is simultaneously a scholar and a practitioner of magic, it explores academic debates about the history and nature of magic and reveals what magical practitioners say and do. The language sparkles with inner knowing and outer sophistication.

Barbara Tedlock

This book invites students of anthropology on a journey of discovery both academic and personal. Greenwood gently persuades that 'magic' is capable of rigorous analytic treatment, while also giving them the tools to begin doing this themselves. She provides a clear, systematic and attractive approach to complex and difficult issues.

University of Cardiff Professor Geoffrey Samuel