Routledge Nature and Society: Anthropological Perspectives (European Association of Social Anthropologists)

The contributors to this book focus on the relationship between nature and society from a variety of theoretical and ethnographic perspectives. Their work draws upon recent developments in social theory, biology, ethnobiology, epistemology, sociology of science, and a wide array of ethnographic case studies -- from Amazonia, the Solomon Islands, Malaysia, the Mollucan Islands, rural comunities from Japan and north-west Europe, urban Greece, and laboratories of molecular biology and high-energy physics. The discussion is divided into three parts, emphasising the problems posed by the nature-culture dualism, some misguided attempts to respond to these problems, and potential avenues out of the current dilemmas of ecological discourse. Review "Whether or not once accepts the theoretical claims that are advanced in "Nature and Society, the variety and depth of the researh that is offered in support of these claims is undeniably impressive.." -"International Philosophical Quarterly, March 1998 Vol.XXXVIII, No.1, Issue No. 149 From the Back Cover Nature and Society looks critically at the nature/society dichotomy and its place in human ecology and social theory. Rethinking the dualism means rethinking ecological anthropology and its notion of the relation between person and environment. By focusing on a variety of perspectives, the contributors draw upon developments in social theory, biology, ethnobiology and sociology of science. They present an array of ethnographic case studies - from Amazonia, the Solomon Islands, Malaysia, the Moluccan Islands, rural communities in Japan and north-west Europe, urban Greece and laboratories of molecular biology and high-energy physics. Nature and Society focuses on the issue of the environment and its relations to humans. By inviting concern for sustainability, ethics, indigenous knowledge, animal rights and social context of science, this book will appeal to students of anthropology, human ecology and sociology.