,! ,DISA/R\S ,ORDEAL ( #aihg 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 

,TEXT 3 

,:AT FOLL[S IS ! EPILOGUE TO 0,! ,DISA/R\S ,ORDEAL ( #a#i#h#g01 :I* IS A HI/ORICAL E?NOGRAPHY AB\T A VILLAGE CALL$ ,BETAFO 9 C5TRAL ,MADAGASC>1 BY ME1 ,DAVID ,GRAEB]4 

,BY ! WAY3 ! DEF9ITIONS ( POLITICAL ACTION :I* ,I ALLUDE TO BUT DON'T QUOTE IS3 'POLITICAL ACTION CONSI/S ( ACTIONS 9T5D$ TO 9FLU5CE PEOPLE :O >E NOT PRES5T :5 ! ACTION IS BE+ TAK5' 7I4E41 BY BE+ REPRES5T$ TO O!RS LAT]2 ?\< ?IS DOES NOT MEAN IT CANNOT BE 9T5D$ TO 9FLU5CE PEOPLE :O .->E.- !RE1 TOO7 & 'POLITICAL P[] IS ! ABILITY TO /OP O!RS FROM ACT+ ?AT WAY4' 

,IF ANYONE GETS >\ND TO READ+ IT1 ,I'D LOVE TO KN[ :AT PEOPLE ?9K4 

,IT MI<T BE USEFUL TO CLOSE ) SOME WORDS ON :Y ,I *OSE TO WRITE ?IS BOOK ! WAY ,I DID4 ,9 PURELY =MAL T]MS1 IT IS A RA!R UNUSUAL E?NOGRAPHY4 ,ITS /YLE IS AT TIMES ALMO/ NOVELI/IC2 AT O!RS1 IT %IFTS 9TO MU* MORE CONV5TIONAL MODES ( E?NOGRAPHIC OR HI/ORICAL WRIT+4 ,! SAME *>ACT]S :O APPE> 9 ONE P>T ( ! TEXT AS ACTORS (T5 REAPPE> 9 O!RS AS N>RATORS OR ANALY/S1 PROVID+ 7(T5 CRITICAL7 COMM5T>Y AB\T CU/OMS1 LOCAL ISSUES1 & AB\T EA* O!R4 ,:5 ,I BEGAN WRIT+ ! BOOK1 ,I HAD NOT 5TIRELY WORK$ \T MO/ ( ! !ORETICAL IDEAS AB\T POLITICS & N>RATIVE ?AT N[ APPE> 9 IT2 SO ,I CANNOT REALLY SAY ?AT ,I WROTE IT ! WAY ,I DID BECAUSE ( !M4 ,BUT ,I DID WANT TO CONVEY ! S5SE ,I HAD ( ! PEOPLE ,I KNEW 9 ,BETAFO AS BO? ACTORS 9 HI/ORY1 & AS !MSELVES HI/ORIANS4 ,ACCORD+ TO ! V]Y BROAD SET ( DEF9ITIONS ,I DID WORK \T 9 ! C\RSE ( WRIT+1 TO REPRES5T !M 9 ?IS WAY IS ALSO TO REPRES5T !M AS POLITICAL BE+S4 ,IT IS1 ,I HAVE >GU$1 9 SO F> AS WE ALL ACT 91 REC\NT1 9T]PRET & CRITICIZE \R SOCIAL WORLDS ?AT WE >E ALL POLITICAL BE+S ( ONE SORT OR ANO!R4.<#a.> 

,?R\<\T ! BOOK1 ,I HAVE TRI$1 :5EV] POSSIBLE1 TO EMPHASIZE SU* >EAS ( COMMON GR\ND4 ,9 FACT1 IF !RE WAS ONE IMPULSE-ONE MI<T EV5 SAY ONE MORAL IMP]ATIVE-?AT DROVE ME FROM ! V]Y BEG9N+1 IT WAS A DESIRE TO EXPLODE SOME ( ! S5SE ( >TIFICIAL DI/ANCE ?AT SO MANY E?NOGRAPHIES CREATE BETWE5 AU?OR1 AUDI5CE1 & ! PEOPLE :O >E BE+ /UDI$4 ,I WANT$ ! READ] TO BE ABLE TO ?9K ( ! 9HABITANTS ( ,BETAFO AS PEOPLE !Y C\LD AT LEA/ IMAG9E MEET+ & :O1 UND] ! RI<T SET ( CIRCUM/ANCES1 !Y MI<T ACTUALLY GET TO KN[4 ,IF NO?+ ELSE1 ,I HAVE TRI$ AT LEA/ 9 SMALL WAYS TO ALWAYS EMPHASIZE H[-CULTURAL DIFF]5CES NOT)/&+-WE DO 9HABIT ! SAME WORLD1 & ULTIMATELY ! SAME HI/ORY & ! SAME MORAL UNIV]SE2 OR1 IF ONE WANTS TO DEF9E HI/ORY 9 A MORE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FA%ION1 !N AT ! V]Y LEA/1 ?AT WE ALL C\LD BE %>+ ONE4 

,AT ! 5D ( *APT] #a#a1 ,I SUGGE/$ ?AT ONE WAY AN?ROPOLOGI/S C\LD BEG9 TO UND]M9E ?IS S5SE ( DI/ANCE W\LD BE TO LOOK AT :AT WE >E DO+ AS MORE AK9 TO HI/ORY ?AN TO :AT WE W\LD NORMALLY CONSID] SCI5CE4 ,N[1 9 SAY+ ?IS1 ,I DIDN'T REALLY MEAN TO WEI< 9 TO ! SPORADIC DEBATE 9 AN?ROPOLOGY AB\T :E!R ! DISCIPL9E %\LD DEF9E ITSELF AS A SCI5CE OR A HUMANITY4 ,TO ME AT LEA/1 IT SEEMS A SILLY >GUM5T3 AFT] ALL1 PEOPLE :O >E MA9LY 9T]E/$ 91 SAY1 PROBLEMS ( NUTRITION OR V]B /RUCTURE >E OBVI\SLY GO+ TO BE RELY+ ON A DIFF]5T SET ( ME?ODS ?AN PEOPLE :O >E MA9LY 9T]E/$ 9 HI/ORICAL CONSCI\SNESS2 AS LONG AS WE ALL HAPP5 TO BE TUMBL$ TOGE!R 9 ! SAME DEP>TM5TS1 IT SEEMS ONLY REASONABLE TO ALL[ ?AT \R DISCIPL9E IS A HODGEPODGE & LEAVE IT AT ?AT4 ,BUT ! DEBATE DOES RAISE SOME 9T]E/+ ISSUES4 ,:Y EXACTLY IS IT1 = 9/ANCE1 ?AT HI/ORY IS CONSID]$ ONE ( ! ,HUMANITIES1 & NOT A ,SOCIAL ,SCI5CE8 ,OBVI\SLY !RE >E HI/ORICAL REASONS-!RE W]E PEOPLE :O CONSID]$ !MSELVES HI/ORIANS LONG BE=E !RE W]E ONES :O CONSID]$ !MSELVES SOCIAL SCI5TI/S 7OR = ?AT MATT] NATURAL SCI5TI/S74 ,BUT IF IT HAS REMA9$ AMONG ! ,HUMANITIES1 9 ! COMPANY ( ! /UDY ( LIT]ATURE1 >T1 & PHILOSOPHY & NOT ?AT ( SOCIOLOGY OR POLITICAL SCI5CE1 ,I SUSPECT IT IS ULTIMATELY BECAUSE ( SOME S5SE ?AT SCI5CE DEALS ) REGUL>ITIES1 IF NOT ) 'LAWS'1 !N AT ! V]Y LEA/ ) ?+S ?AT >E TO SOME DEGREE PR$ICTABLE1 & ?AT HI/ORY T5DS TO FOCUS ON ! V]Y OPPOSITE1 ON ! IRREGUL> & UNPR$ICTABLE1 ON EV5TS ?AT C\LD NO MORE HAVE BE5 PR$ICT$1 BE=E !Y HAPP5$1 ?AN ! PRODUCTION ( A NOVEL OR A WORK ( >T4 

,= SOME1 ,I WILL ALL[1 ?IS MI<T SEEM A RA!R OLD-FA%ION$ VIEW ( HI/ORY4 ,C]TA9LY1 NOT ALL MOD]N HI/ORIANS FEEL !IR DISCIPL9E %\LD EV5 BE AMONG ! HUMANITIES2 !RE >E MANY PROPON5TS ( A 0SCI5CE ( HI/ORY0-ONE :I* CAN MAKE PR$ICTIONS4 ,9 WAYS ! DEBATE )9 HI/ORY P>ALLELS ! ONE 9 AN?ROPOLOGY4 ,MU* ( ! LIT]ATURE AB\T ! NATURE ( N>RATIVE :I* ,I MADE USE ( 9 ! 9TRODUCTION TO *APT] #g1 9 FACT1 EM]GES FROM JU/ SU* A DEBATE 7,ROSALDO #a#i#h#i3#a#b#g-#a#d#c PROVIDES A USEFUL SUMM>Y7-9 :I* A SET ( HI/ORIANS & PHILOSOPH]S ( HI/ORY1 HAV+ BE5 TOLD ?AT NO ONE HAD ANY REASON TO TAKE !M S]I\SLY AS LONG AS !Y W]E SIMPLY TELL+ /ORIES & NOT COM+ UP ) ANY G5]ALIZABLE LAWS1 5D$ UP =MULAT+ A DEF5SE ( 'N>RATIVE UND]/&+' AS AN ALT]NATE1 & P]FECTLY LEGITIMATE1 WAY ( KN[+4 ,I AM1 AS ! READ] MI<T IMAG9E1 SYMPA!TIC TO !IR POSITION4 ,9 FACT1 ,I W\LD TAKE ! >GUM5T MU* FUR!R4 ,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT1 AT LEA/ 9 AN?ROPOLOGY1 IT IS ?IS V]Y CONC]N ) SCI5CE1 LAWS1 & REGUL>ITIES ?AT HAS BE5 RESPONSIBLE = CREAT+ ! S5SE ( DI/ANCE ,I HAVE BE5 TRY+ SO H>D TO EFFACE2 IT IS1 P>ADOXICALLY 5\<1 ! DESIRE TO SEEM OBJECTIVE ?AT HAS BE5 L>GELY RESPONSIBLE = CREAT+ ! IMPRESSION ?AT ! PEOPLE WE /UDY >E SOME EXOTIC1 ALI51 ULTIMATELY UNKN[ABLE ,O!R4 

,LET ME PROVIDE A FEW EXAMPLES ( :AT ,I MEAN BY ?IS4 ,EUROPEAN DOCUM5TS CONC]N+ ,MADAGASC> WRITT5 BE=E ! ,FR5* CONQUE/ >E REM>KABLY DIFF]5T 9 TONE ?AN ?OSE WRITT5 AFT]W>DS4 ,I REMEMB] BE+ QUITE /RUCK BY ?IS :ILE DO+ RESE>* 9 ! ,MALAGASY >*IVES4 ,IT SEEM$ AS IF 9 #a#h#i#e1 ! :OLE *>ACT] ( ! C\NTRY *ANG$4 ,! ,MADAGASC> ONE READS AB\T 9 #a#i? C5TURY DOCUM5TS DOCUM5TS WAS A PLACE FULL ( RECOGNIZABLE 9DIVIDUALS3 POLITICIANS1 PR9CESSES1 HUMBLE RURAL PA/ORS OR W&]+ SORC]]S1 B&ITS1 G5]ALS1 ,*RI/IAN M>TYRS4 ,DOCUM5TS BY MISSION>IES1 ,EUROPEAN AG5TS & TRAVEL]S W]E ALL ! SAME 9 ?IS RESPECT2 EV5 POLITICAL DISPAT*ES T5D$ TO TAK5 UP ) SPECULATION AB\T ! MOTIVATIONS1 AFF9ITIES1 & LIKELY PLANS ( GOV]NM5T M9I/]S OR POT5TIAL REVOLUTION>IES4 ,! AU?ORS W]E FULL ( ALL SORTS ( BIASES1 & MO/ ( ! PORTRAITS >E PRETTY TWO-DIM5SIONAL1 BUT AT LEA/ !Y W]E USUALLY MAK+ A S9C]E EF=T TO UND]/& ! MOTIVES ( ! PEOPLE AB\T :OM !Y W]E WRIT+1 = ! SIMPLE REASON ?AT !Y HAD TO4 ,AFT] ALL1 !Y W]E VISITORS 9 AN 9DEP5D5T C\NTRY1 & !SE W]E PEOPLE ) SOME P[] TO AFFECT !IR LIVES4 ,ALMO/ ! MOM5T ,MADAGASC> LO/ ITS 9DEP5D5CE1 ! HUMAN BE+S ALSO DISAPPE>4 ,DOCUM5TS FROM ! COLONIAL P]IOD CONSI/ EI!R ( VAGUE1 DESCRIPTIVE G5]ALITIES1 OR 7EV5 MORE7 ( T$I\S ACC\NTS ( ADM9I/RATION1 ALONG ) SCI5TIFIC DISPAT*ES & REPORTS4 

,M>G>ET ,WE9] 7#a#i#i#e7 HAS REC5TLY NOT$ MU* ! SAME TRANS=MATION 9 COMP>+ RECORDS FROM BE=E ! ,DUT* CONQUE/ ( S\!RN ,BALI 9 #aih TO ?OSE :I* CAME AFT] IT2 AFT] CONQUE/1 ACC\NTS ( P]SONALITIES & DRAMATIC EV5TS >E IMM$IATELY REPLAC$ BY BUREAUCRATIC 0DISCUSSIONS ( F9ANCE1 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION1 CON/RUCTION1 & PUBLIC HEAL?4 ,IT WAS10 %E WRITES1 0AS IF ONCE A REGION WAS BR\<T UND] COLONIAL DOM9ATION1 NO?+ HAPP5$ !RE ANY LONG]444 ,! COLONIAL /ATE PRODUC$ KN[L$GE MA9LY 9 ! =M ( /ATI/ICS & REGUL>ITIES0 7,WE9] #a#i#i#e3#i74 

,ONE REASON :Y 9DIVIDUALS DISAPPE> FROM COLONIAL DOCUM5TS IS1 CLE>LY1 BECAUSE ! AU?ORS W]E NO LONG] OBLIG$ TO TAKE ACC\NT ( !M2 ONE ( ! FIR/ ?+S A COLONIAL REGIME T5DS TO DO IS TO CREATE A POLITICAL CLIMATE 9 :I* NO S+LE 9HABITANT ( ! C\NTRY IS 9 A POSITION TO DO ANY?+ :I* C\LD HAVE MU* ( AN EFFECT ON !M4 ,BUT IT WAS ALSO BECAUSE !Y CONCEIV$ ( :AT !Y W]E DO+1 !IR MODE ( RULE1 9 V]Y SCI5TIFIC T]MS4 ,H5CE ! '/ATI/ICS & REGUL>ITIES'4 ,COLONIAL GOV]NM5TS SAW !MSELVES AS APPLY+ TE*NIQUES ( SCI5TIFIC ADM9I/RATION1 :I* C\LD BR+ ! C\NTRY'S ECONOMY & SOCIETY AS MU* AS POSSIBLE UND] COMPLETE1 PR$ICTABLE CONTROL1 & 9 DO+ SO E/ABLI% ! V]Y P>AMET]S )9 :I* MEAN+FUL ACTION WAS POSSIBLE4 

,BUT-AT LEA/ 9 ,MADAGASC>-!RE WAS ANO!R SIDE TO ?IS /ORY4 ,IT WAS ALSO PRECISELY AT ! MOM5T :5 ! C\NTRY HAD BE5 CONQU]$1 & !SE RATIONAL-BUREAUCRATIC TE*NIQUES ( ADM9I/RATION W]E BE+ PUT 9 PLACE1 ?AT ! NEW ADM9I/RATORS BEGAN WAX+ POETIC 79 !IR UN(FICIAL WRIT+S7 AB\T SOME?+ !Y CALL$ ! 0,MALAGASY S\L04 ,?IS 0,MALAGASY S\L0 SOON BECAME A /OCK !ME ( ,FR5* WRIT+ ON ! ISL&4 ,IT WAS REPRES5T$ AS ! SIGN ( A PR(\DLY ALI5 M5TALITY1 FULL ( QUIRKY PASSIONS & DREAMY FANTASIES1 ULTIMATELY BEYOND ! GRASP ( ! UND]/&+ ( A SIMPLE ,WE/]N]4 ,AS ,ANTO9E ,B\ILLON 7#a#i#h#a7 HAS PO9T$ \T1 NO ONE HAD EV] TALK$ ?IS WAY :5 ,MADAGASC> WAS 9DEP5D5T1 & =EIGN VISITORS /ILL HAD TO DEAL ) 9DIVIDUAL ,MALAGASY ACTORS ON ANY?+ LIKE EQUAL T]MS4 

,?IS IS A USEFUL EXAMPLE1 ,I ?9K1 BECAUSE IT'S SO OBVI\S :AT'S GO+ ON H]E4 ,! 0,MALAGASY S\L0-9 SO F> AS IT WAS ANY?+ MORE ?AN PROJECTION-WAS A M]E BYPRODUCT1 A CONFUS$ AMALGAM ( EV]Y?+ ?AT FELL \TSIDE ! EXTREMELY N>R[ P>AMET]S SET BY ! AU?ORS' [N BUREAUCRATIC MA*9]Y1 OR ! RATIONALI/IC REGIMES :I* !Y N[ HAD ! P[] TO IMPOSE4 

,MOD]N AN?ROPOLOGY ( C\RSE TOOK %APE MA9LY )9 ! ,BRITI% & ,FR5* COLONIAL EMPIRES AS WELL4 ,& IT TOO CONSID]$ ITSELF A SCI5TIFIC 5T]PRISE4 

,?IS WAS ! AGE ( ,/RUCTURAL ,FUNCTIONALISM1 & ONE ( ! MA9 ?+S ?AT MADE ,/RUCTURAL ,FUNCTIONALI/ AN?ROPOLOGY1 9 ! EYES ( ITS PRACTITION]S1 WAS ! FACT ?AT IT WAS CONC]N$ PRIM>ILY ) 0NORMS01 OR REGUL>ITIES4 ,:AT ?IS MEANT 9 PRACTICE WAS ?AT :AT E?NOGRAPH]S DESCRIB$1 & !ORI/S DISCUSS$1 WAS ALMO/ EXCLUSIVELY ?OSE ASPECTS ( SOCIAL LIFE :I* W]E PR$ICTABLE1 REPETITIVE3 ! HUMAN LIFE CYCLE1 ) ITS AGE GRADES & RITES ( PASSAGE1 ! DOME/IC CYCLE1 RITUAL CYCLES1 YE>LY R\NDS444 ,EV5 SUCCESSION TO POLITICAL (FICES WAS ALWAYS TREAT$ AS AN ESS5TIALLY REGUL> PROCESSES1 :I* IDEALLY1 %\LD ALWAYS WORK !MSELVES \T 9 ! SAME WAY4 ,9 SO F> AS 9DIVIDUALS & UNIQUE EV5TS APPE>$ 9 E?NOGRAPHIES WRITT5 AT ?IS TIME1 !Y W\LD USUALLY TAKE ! =M ( CASE /UDIES MEANT TO ILLU/RATE MORE G5]AL PROCESSES4 ,H]E & !RE1 !RE W]E EF=TS TO TRY TO F9D SOME WAY ( TALK+ AB\T 9DIVIDUAL PROJECTS & 9T5TIONS 7NAMES LIKE ,MAX ,GLUCKMAN & ,VICTOR ,TURN] COME MO/ IMM$IATELY TO M9D7 BUT IT WAS ) ! UND]LY+ ASSUMPTION1 ONE C\LD ALMO/ CALL IT FAI?1 ?AT 9DIVIDUAL ACTORS W]E ULTIMATELY IRRELEVANT1 ?AT :ATEV] !IR IMM$IATE 9T5TIONS1 !Y W\LD SOMEH[ 5D UP REPRODUC+ ! SAME CYCLIC /RUCTURE OV] & OV] AGA94 

,( C\RSE1 IT WAS EASI] TO ?9K ( SU* PEOPLE AS LIV+ \TSIDE ( HI/ORY BECAUSE1 = ! MO/ P>T1 !Y W]E PEOPLE LIV+ UND] =EIGN MILIT>Y OCCUPATION1 ) NO POLITICAL RI<TS4 ,BUT AS TIME W5T ON1 ,WE/]N OBS]V]S DEVELOP$ AN 9CREAS+ T5D5CY TO CONFUSE CAUSES ) EFFECTS4 ,RA!R ?AN ! ABS5CE ( HI/ORY BE+ AN EFFECT ( ! WAY ! AU?ORS *OSE TO DESCRIBE !SE SOCIETIES1 IT WAS BECAUSE ( SOME?+ PR(\NDLY /RANGE AB\T ! SOCIETIES !MSELVES4 ,!Y W]E SOCIETIES ?AT HAD REJECT$ HI/ORY4 ',COLD CULTURES' 7,LEVI-,/RAUSS #a#i#f#f71 EXOTIC SOCIETIES LOCK$ 9 A PRIMAL1 MY?IC CONSCI\SNESS4 ,& :AT DID ?IS MY?IC CONSCI\SNESS CONSI/ (8 ,REGUL>ITIES4 ,ET]NAL REPETITION4 ,! FAI? ?AT EV]Y?+ COMES 9 UN*ANG+ CYCLES1 A 'TRADITIONALI/' PHILOSOPHY ?AT ACTIVELY REJECTS HI/ORY1 P]SONAL IDIOSYNCRASIES1 ! FUTURE1 & CUMULATIVE *ANGE 9 ! NAME ( TIMELESS >*ETYPES & ! 0ET]NAL RETURN0 7E4G41 ,ELIADE #a#i#e-74 

,IT IS PROBABLY ONLY FAIR TO PO9T \T SU* DOCTR9ES T5D$ TO PUT =W>D MO/ 5?USIA/ICALLY BY PEOPLE :O HAD ONLY READ E?NOGRAPHIES1 NOT ONES :O HAD WRITT5 !M4 ,BUT /ILL3 NOTICE :AT IS HAPP5+4 ,! V]Y ATTITUDE :I* ,WE/]N OBS]V]S ADOPT 9 ! NAME ( SCI5CE 5DS UP BE+ PROJECT$ ONTO ?OSE !Y OBS]VE2 EXCEPT !RE1 9/EAD ( MAK+ !M SEEM SCI5TI/S1 IT MAKES !M SE5 MY/ICAL1 POETIC2 /RANGE1 PR(\NDLY DIFF]5T SORTS ( HUMAN BE+4 

,S9CE ! DISSOLUTION ( COLONIAL EMPIRES1 AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE R$ISCOV]$ HI/ORY4 ,BUT SOME?+ ( ! OLD ATTITUDE REMA9S4 ,!RE IS /ILL A S5SE ?AT1 9 ORD] TO BE CONSID]$ OBJECTIVE1 ONE MU/ D5Y C]TA9 ASPECTS ( ! SUBJECTIVITY ( ?OSE ONE /UDIES4 ,FEW E?NOGRAPHIES EV5 ATTA9 ! LEVEL ( P]SONAL 5GAGEM5T ONE S5SES 9 SOME ( MO/ 9T]E/+ DISPAT*ES & REPORTS TO BE F\ND 9 PRECOLONIAL ,EUROPEAN >*IVES4 ,9DE$1 ,I SUSPECT IT IS JU/ ?IS SORT ( D5IAL :I* IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE = ! FACT ?AT CRITICS CAN /ILL WRITE ( AN?ROPOLOGY BE+ BASICALLY AB\T DRAW+ ! B\ND>IES BETWE5 AN 0US0 & 0!M0 7,TR9H ,M9H-,HA #a#i#h#i71 TO SPEAK AS IF ITS FUNDAM5TAL BUS9ESS HAS ALWAYS1 & MU/ NECESS>ILY BE1 TO DESCRIBE SOME DEEPLY ALI5 CREATURE-USUALLY REF]R$ TO AS 0! ,O!R0-SO DIFF]5T FROM ! AN?ROPOLOGI/ & H] AUDI5CE ?AT ANY?+ ONE SAYS AB\T !M IS LIKELY TO BE A M]E PROJECTION ( ONE'S [N SELF 7SEE ,SAID #a#i#h#b2 ,JAN,MOHAMM$ #a#i#h#e3#e#i1 ,SPIVAK #a#i#h#h1 ,TR\ILLOT #a#i#i#a1 = BUT A H&FUL ( EXAMPLES47.<#b.> ,AGA91 AN?ROPOLOGI/S !MSELVES DO NOT (T5 TALK ?IS WAY2 IT IS MA9LY ?OSE :O HAVE M]ELY READ \R BOOKS :O TALK AB\T 0! ,O!R04 ,I MYSELF CAN'T ?9K ( ANYONE ,I KN[ :O HAS ACTUALLY LIV$ & WORK$ = ANY L5G? ( TIME ) PEOPLE ( A PR(\NDLY DIFF]5T CULTURE :O LEFT ) ! IMPRESSION ?AT !Y W]E-TO TAKE ONE EXTREME =MULATION 7,TODOROV #a#i#h#b3#c7-0SO =EIGN ?AT !Y LEAVE ME RELUCTANT TO ADMIT !Y BELONG TO ! SAME SPECIES AS MY [N04 

,OBVI\SLY1 !N1 BY ! TIME ( WRIT+1 SOME?+ IS FALL+ \T4 ,9 ! FIELD1 AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE NO TR\BLE RECOGNIZ+ ! PEOPLE WE WORK ) AS FELL[ HUMAN BE+S4 ,BUT SOMEH[1 :ATEV] IT WAS ?AT MADE !M SO RECOGNIZABLE IS NOT COM+ ?R\< 9 \R DESCRIPTIONS4 

,P]HAPS ?IS IS NOT SO SURPRIS+1 CONSID]+ :AT SOME ( !SE PO9TS ( RECOGNITION >E4 ,9 MY [N CASE1 = 9/ANCE1 ! MO/ OBVI\S ?+ :I* MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ?9K ( ! PEOPLE ,I MET 9 ,MADAGASC> AS BE+ PR(\NDLY DIFF]5T SORTS ( HUMAN BE+ WAS ! FACT ?AT !Y W]E ALL SO DIFF]5T FROM EA* O!R4 ,& NOT ONLY ?AT3 ! WAYS !Y W]E DIFF]5T FROM EA* O!R SEEM$ PRETTY MU* ! SAME AS ! WAYS PEOPLE W]E DIFF]5T FROM EA* O!R ANY:]E ELSE ,I'D EV] BE54 ,FROM ! MOM5T ,I />T$ HAV+ ANY SORT ( PROLONG$ SOCIAL 9T]ACTION ) PEOPLE1 ,I F\ND MYSELF SIZ+ !M UP AS 9DIVIDUALS3 ',P]SON ,A SEEMS TO BE BASICALLY WELL MEAN+1 BUT %E'S 9CR$IBLY SELF-9VOLV$1 ! SORT ( P]SON :O ALWAYS FEELS H] LIFE IS 9 A TOTAL CRISIS1 TOTT]+ ON ! BR9K ( TRAG$Y2 ,P]SON ,B1 SOME?+ DI%ONE/ AB\T ?AT GUY1 LIKE HE'S ALWAYS TRY+ TO FIGURE \T ! ANGLES1 W\LDN'T TRU/ HIM FUR!R ?AN ,I C\LD ?R[ HIM2 ,P]SON ,C3 OPTIMI/IC1 PLAYFUL BUT PROBABLY EXTREMELY IMPRACTICAL2 ,P]SON ,D3 AN 9S5SITIVE1 L\DM\? J]K444' ,IT IS NOT H>D TO SEE :Y SU* ASSESSM5TS T5D TO GET LEFT \T ( E?NOGRAPHIES4 ,EV5 AP>T FROM ! LA/ ONE 7AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE A P>TICUL>LY H>D TIME ADMITT+ !Y C\LD HAVE POSSIBLY MET ANYONE 9 ! FIELD :O !Y DIDN'T LIKE71 IT ALL SEEMS HOPELESSLY SUBJECTIVE4 ,EV5 A V]Y BRIEF LI/ SU* AS ,I HAVE JU/ PRES5T$ W\LD PROBABLY 9SPIRE SOME CRITIC TO DEM& TO KN[ :Y !Y %\LD NOT ?9K ,I WAS SIMPLY PROJECT+ MY [N ,5GLI% LANGUAGE CATEGORIES :]E !Y W]E 5TIRELY 9APPROPRIATE4 

,IT W\LD NOT BE A P>TICUL>LY FAIR CRITICISM2 FIR/ ( ALL1 BECAUSE SU* ASSESSM5TS (T5 9VOLV$ IMPRESSIONS ONE C\LD NOT REMOTELY PUT 9TO WORDS-& (T5 EV5 ! WORDS ONE US$ W]E OBVI\SLY 9ADEQUATE1 JU/ MAKE%IFT APPROXIMATIONS ?AT /OOD 9 = A MU* MORE 9TUITIVE S5SE ( :AT SOMEONE SEEM$ TO BE AB\T4 ,ANYWAY1 ! MORE ,I GOT US$ TO US+ ,MALAGASY ! MORE ,I />T$ SUB/ITUT+ ,MALAGASY WORDS = ,5GLI%1 )\T EV] FEEL+ ,I WAS CROSS+ ANY GREAT DIVIDE4.<#c.> ,BUT MORE IMPORTANT1 ,I ?9K1 ?AT CRITICISM GIVES ! S5SE ?AT :AT ONE IS DO+ IS SOME K9D ( AB/RACT P>LOR GAME1 PLAC+ FAMILI> CATEGORIES ON UNFAMILI> OBJECTS1 & ?IS IS UTT]LY UNTRUE4 ,MAK+ SU* ASSESSM5TS IS NO GAME4 ,IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY 9EVITABLE & NECESS>Y FEATURE ( HUMAN 9T]ACTION4 ,Y\ HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE Y\ HAVE TO HAVE SOME IDEA H[ PEOPLE >E LIKELY TO BEHAVE-BECAUSE !IR BEHAVIOR1 !IR ACTIONS1 >E LIKELY TO HAVE EFFECTS ON Y\1 OR AT ! V]Y LEA/ HAVE EFFECTS ON Y\R FRI5DS1 OR PEOPLE ?AT Y\ LIKE OR C>E AB\T4 ,(T5 !Y >E BAS$ ON V]Y IMM$IATE CONC]NS1 LIKE3 :AT W\LD IT BE LIKE TO SP5D FIVE OR SIX H\RS /UCK 9 ! BACK ( A TRUCK ) ?IS P]SON8 ,W\LD !Y AT LEA/ BE 9T]E/+ TO TALK TO8 ,W\LD !Y WANT TO TALK TO ME AT ALL8 ,:AT'S ! *ANCE !Y W\LD SP5D ! TIME TRY+ TO CONV]T ME TO !IR RELIGION1 OR TO S$UCE ME1 OR GET DRUNK & ?R[ UP ON ME 7OR ALL ?REE87 ,= ?IS REASON1 TOO1 !Y >E ALSO CON/ANTLY BE+ TE/$ AGA9/ REALITY4 ,ONE (T5 GETS IT WRONG-SOMETIMES1 DISA/R\SLY WRONG4 ,(T51 TOO-& ?IS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT FIR/-ONE MISREADS ! CUES BECAUSE ( CULTURAL DIFF]5CES4 ,BUT SOMETIMES IT IS JU/ BECAUSE IT IS 9 ! NATURE ( SU* ASSESSM5TS ?AT !Y >E (T5 WRONG4 ,?IS IS AN >T & NOT A SCI5CE1 & SOME PEOPLE >E DI/9CTLY BETT] AT IT ?AN O!RS4.<#d.> ,BUT IT IS ALSO WOR? REMEMB]+ ?AT EV5 AFT] YE>S ( BE+ TE/$ BY DAILY 9T]ACTION1 NO ONE'S KN[L$GE ( ANYONE ELSE CAN EV] BE QUITE COMPLETE OR ACCURATE2 IT ALWAYS REMA9S SOME?+ ( AN APPROXIMATION2 PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS RETA9 !IR CAPABILITY TO SURPRISE Y\4 

,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT ONE ( ! PRIME REASONS SU* ASSESSM5TS GET LEFT \T ( E?NOGRAPHIES-EV5 MO/ SELF-CONSCI\SLY EXP]IM5TAL1 'PO/MOD]N' ONES-IS SIMPLY BECAUSE MAK+ !M IMPLIES A RECOGNITION ?AT !SE >E PEOPLE :O HAVE-OR HAVE HAD- SOME P[] TO AFFECT ! E?NOGRAPH]'S LIFE4 ,OBVI\SLY1 PEOPLE :O >E LIV+ TOGE!R1 5GAG$ 9 COMMON PROJECTS1 OR EV5 JU/ 9 ! HABIT ( 5GAG+ 9 CONV]SATION1 >E GO+ TO HAVE SOME K9D ( EFFECT ON ONE ANO!R4 ,BUT = SOME REASON1 E?NOGRAPH]S T5D TO F9D ! RECIPROCAL ASPECTS ( SU* RELATIONS EMB>RASS+4 ,ONE IS ALL[$ TO M$ITATE GUILTILY AB\T ! POSSIBLE ILL EFFECTS ( ONE'S [N ACTIONS1 = 9/ANCE1 BUT 9 WRIT+1 ! O!R SIDE ( ! PICTURE T5DS TO GET SWEPT AWAY4 ,9 ! 5D1 ! EFFECT IS TO CREATE A K9D ( 9VISIBLE WALL1 :I* SEEMS TO PREV5T ! PEOPLE 9 ! BOOK FROM HAV+ ANY HI/ORICAL AG5CY1 ANY ABILITY TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON ! E?NOGRAPH] & H] WORLD1.<#e.> )\T1 H[EV]1 PREV5T+ 9FLU5CE TO FL[ ! O!R WAY >\ND4 ,BY BLOTT+ \T ! TRACES ( *>ACT]1 IT EFFACES EV5 ! IMPRESSIONS :I* RECOGNITION ( A CAPACITY TO AFFECT O!RS' LIVES WILL ALWAYS1 NECESS>ILY LEAVE BEH9D4 

,9 P>T1 ?IS IS PROBABLY JU/ AN EFFECT ( ! CONDITIONS UND] :I* PEOPLE WRITE1 :I* >E G5]ALLY V]Y DIFF]5T ?AN ! CONDITIONS UND] :I* !Y CONDUCT$ !IR RESE>*4 ,MO/ E?NOGRAPH]S WRITE !IR BOOKS SAFELY TUCK$ AWAY 9 UNIV]SITIES F> AWAY FROM ! PEOPLE !Y >E WRIT+ AB\T4 ,BY !N1 ?OSE PEOPLE >E USUALLY NO LONG] 9 A POSITION TO DO ANY?+ ?AT WILL HAVE AN IMM$IATE AFFECT ON !M OR ANYONE CLOSE TO !M- AL?\< ! REV]SE IS NOT NECESS>ILY ! CASE4 ,MO/ E?NOGRAPH]S DO SP5D A GREAT DEAL ( TIME FRETT+ OV] ! POSSIBLE EFFECTS !IR WRIT+ MI<T HAVE-AS ,I1 = EXAMPLE1 HAVE WORRI$ 5DLESSLY OV] :E!R ,I AM BETRAY+ MY FRI5D ,>M& BY PUBLI%+ 9=MATION ?AT 9DICATES HIS ANCE/ORS W]E SLAVES4 ,IT IS H>D TO IMAG9E ANY?+ ,>M& MI<T DO1 N[1 ?AT W\LD HAVE ANY REAL EFFECT ON ME4 ,IT W\LD H>DLY BE SURPRIS+ IF ?AT REALITY 7:I* IS1 AFT] ALL1 ! 5COMPASS+ REALITY7 (T5 T5DS TO BE PROJECT$ BACK 9TO ! WAY WE WRITE AB\T ! V]Y DIFF]5T EXP]I5CE ( FIELDWORK4 

,A SMALL ANTI-RELATIVI/ DIATRIBE 

,I ?9K IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSID] ?IS POSSIBILITY BECAUSE IT SUGGE/S H[ (T5 ! 9VISIBLE WALLS ?AT APPE> 9 \R TEXTS >E REALLY ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY ! EXI/5CE ( O!R WALLS ?AT >E P]FECTLY VISIBLE-9 ?IS CASE1 ( A V]Y L>GE & ELABORATE APP>ATUS ( EXCLUSION :I* 9VOLVES SU* ?+S AS 9T]NATIONAL TREATIES1 BORD] GU>DS1 ! PRICE ( AIRPLANE TICKETS1 & ! ,I,M,F4 ,POLITICS DOES NOT TAKE PLACE PRIM>ILY )9 TEXTS1 ?\< ONE MI<T NOT KN[ IT FROM SOME ( ! MORE AB/RACT DEBATES AB\T ! 0POLITICS ( REPRES5TATION04 

,CONSID] = EXAMPLE ! DOCTR9E ( MORAL RELATIVISM4 ,BY ?IS ,I MEAN ! DOCTR9E ?AT1 />T+ FROM ! 75TIRELY REASONABLE7 PREMISE ?AT ONE CANNOT FULLY UND]/& ANY ACTION EXCEPT 9 ! CONTEXT ( ! ACTOR'S CULTURAL UNIV]SE1 CONCLUDES ?AT AS A CONSEQU5CE1 NO ONE HAS ! RI<T TO /& 9 JUDGM5T OV] ANY ACTION COMMITT$ BY SOMEONE ) A FUNDAM5TALLY DIFF]5T WORLD VIEW4 ,N[ IT SEEMS TO ME ?IS IS A DOCTR9E ?AT C\LD ONLY REALLY EM]GE AS A PRODUCT ( IMP]IALISM4 ,IT IS A DOCTR9E ?AT W\LD NEV] BE PRODUC$ EXCEPT BY MEMB]S ( AN ELITE POPULATION :OSE DOM9ANCE OV] ! WORLD WAS SO COMPLETE & SO RELIABLE ?AT !Y C\LD LIVE !IR LIVES 9 FULL CONFID5CE ?AT NO ONE ) A FUNDAM5TALLY DIFF]5T WORLD VIEW W\LD EV] BE 9 A POSITION ( P[] OV] !M4 ,:5 Y\ F9D SOMEONE >GU+ ?AT NO ,WE/]N] HAS ! RI<T TO F9D FAULT 91 SAY1 ! CULTURAL PRESUMPTION ?AT AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO GRIEF AT ! DEA? ( A CLOSE MEMB] ( ONE'S FAMILY IS TO WAYLAY & KILL SOME R&OM /RANG]1 !Y CAN ONLY DO SO BECAUSE ( ! EXI/5CE ( COMPLEX & V]Y EFFICI5T SY/EMS ( CONTROL1 9VOLV+ >MIES1 POLICE1 PASSPORTS1 AIRPORT SECURITY1 IMMIGRATION LAWS1 & /RUCTURES ( ECONOMIC 9EQUALITY1 :I* MAKE IT ALMO/ 9CONCEIVABLE ?AT ANYONE :O FELT ?AT ?IS WAS AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO GRIEF W\LD EV] 5D UP LIV+ 9 !IR NEI<BORHOOD1 OR BE 9 /RIK+ DI/ANCE ( !IR *ILDR54.<#f.> ,PRET5SES TO SOME K9D ( MORAL SUP]IORITY1 BAS$ ON !IR UNWILL+NESS TO MORALLY CONDEMN '! ,O!R'1 IT SEEMS TO ME1 >E P>TICUL>LY OBNOXI\S 9 SO F> AS !Y >E (T5 5TIRELY UND]P9N$ BY TACIT SUPPORT = REAL WALLS TO %UT REAL O!R PEOPLE \T4 ,& BY REFUS+ TO CONSID] SOMEONE AS A MORAL P]SON1 ONE PROVIDES A P]FECT JU/IFICATION TO CONT9UE TO EXCLUDE !M4 

,:AT ,I AM ULTIMATELY GETT+ AT IS ?AT ! V]Y LEA/ AN E?NOGRAPH] 7OR ANYONE ELSE7 [ES TO PEOPLE !Y WRITE AB\T IS TO REPRES5T !M 9 SU* A WAY ?AT ! READ] CAN RECOGNIZE !M AS HUMAN BE+S :O 7AS ,I SAID E>LI]7 !Y MI<T NOT KN[1 BUT !Y C\LD KN[2 AS PEOPLE :O HAVE AT LEA/ ! POT5TIAL TO 9HABIT ! SAME MORAL UNIV]SE AS %E4 ,IT MEANS RECOGNIZ+ !M AS PEOPLE ) ! CAPACITY TO MAKE HI/ORY4 ,IF DO+ SO MEANS ?AT WE WILL HAVE TO AB&ON ! PRET5SE ( DO+ SOME SORT ( SCI5CE1 !N ,I W\LD SAY ?AT K9D ( SCI5CE IS PROBABLY NOT WOR? SAV+ ANYWAY4.<#g.> 

,NOT ?AT ! M]E ACT ( WRIT+ ?IS WAY IS ITSELF GO+ TO SOLVE ALL ?AT MANY PROBLEMS4 ,NO ONE WAS EV] LIB]AT$ 9SIDE A TEXT4 ,C]TA9LY NOT )9 A TEXT !Y DID NOT WRITE4 ,RECOGNIZ+ ! FACT ?AT PEOPLE HAVE ! CAPACITIES TO BE HI/ORICAL AG5TS DOES NOT ITSELF MAKE IT ANY EASI] = !M TO GO \T & MAKE HI/ORY4 ,PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE 9 TEXTS4 ,MO/ ( ! ONES :O APPE> 9 ?IS BOOK1 = EXAMPLE1 LIVE 9 ,MADAGASC>4 ,!RE MANY HAD1 :5 ,I KNEW !M MANAG$ TO WRE/ A REM>KABLE DEGREE ( AUTONOMY = !MSELVES1 BUT >E ALSO V]Y POOR1 HAD LITTLE ACCESS TO ANY WORLDWIDE NETWORKS ( 9FLU5CE & COMMUNICATION1 9 FACT1 NEXT TO NO MEANS TO AFFECT ANY?+ ?AT HAPP5$ \TSIDE ( ,MADAGASC>4 ,NOR HAS !IR SITUATION *ANG$ DRAMATICALLY 9 ! 9T]V5+ FIVE YE>S OR SO4 ,WRIT+ AB\T !M ) MORE S5SITIVITY IS NOT LIKELY TO DO MU* TO IMPROVE ?IS SITUATION2 ?\< IT C]TA9LY W\LDN'T HURT4 

,! CAPACITY TO MAKE HI/ORY 

,MY >GUM5T1 SO F>1 HAS MU* 9 COMMON ) AN >GUM5T REC5TLY DEVELOP$ BY ,S4 ,P4 ,MOHANTY 7#a#i#h#i7 AB\T ! POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS ( RELATIVISM4 ,MOHANTY TOO >GUES ?AT ADOPT+ AN EXTREME RELATIVI/ POSITION W\LD BE POLITICALLY DISA/R\S3 :AT BASIS W\LD WE HAVE TO CRITICIZE ! /RUCTURES ( P[] 9 ! WORLD1 UNLESS WE AT LEA/ ADMIT ?AT EV]YONE 9 ! WORLD %>E C]TA9 ?+S 9 COMMON8 ,AT ! V]Y LEA/1 HE SUGGE/S1 WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE ?AT WE BY N[ ALL 9HABIT A COMMON HI/ORY 7NOT A S]IES ( SEP>ATE1 CULTURALLY B\ND$ 0HI/ORIES071 & ?AT WE ALL %>E A 0CAPACITY = SELF-AW>E HI/ORICAL AG5CY0 7#a#i#h#i3#g#d71 :I* MAKES US CAPABLE ( P>TICIPAT+ 9 IT4 ,ALL ?IS SEEMS EM95TLY REASONABLE TO ME4 ,BUT ONE MI<T /ILL REASONABLY ASK3 :AT PRECISELY DOES ?IS CAPACITY = HI/ORICAL AG5CY CONSI/ (8 ,:AT IS 'HI/ORICAL AG5CY'1 ANYWAY8 

,! T]MS ,I'VE BE5 LAY+ \T OV] ! C\RSE ( ! LA/ SEV]AL PAGES SUGGE/ AT LEA/ ONE POSSIBLE ANSW]4 ',HI/ORICAL ACTIONS1' ONE MI<T SAY1 '>E ACTIONS :I* C\LD NOT HAVE BE5 PR$ICT$ BE=E !Y HAPP5$4' ,OR1 IF ?AT IS TOO SIMPLE1 !N3 'ACTIONS CONSID]$ MEMORABLE AFT]W>DS BECAUSE !Y C\LD NOT HAVE BE5 PR$ICT$ BE=EH&'4.<#h.> ,HI/ORY1 !N1 IS ! RECORD ( ?OSE ACTIONS :I* >E NOT SIMPLY CYCLICAL1 REPETITIVE1 OR 9EVITABLE4 

,AS ) MY DEF9ITION ( POLITICAL ACTION 9 *APT] #g1 ,I AM TRY+ TO BE 9T5TIONALLY PROVOCATIVE-IGNOR+ ALMO/ EV]Y?+ ?AT'S ALREADY BE5 WRITT5 ON ! SUBJECT1 & PROPOS+ AN ALT]NATIVE SO SIMPLE ?AT IT MI<T EV5 BE CONSID]$ SIMPLI/IC4 ,SOME READ]S MI<T OBJECT ?AT ! DEF9ITIONS ,I PROPOSE = BO? 'POLITICS' & 'HI/ORY' >E SO BROAD ?AT !Y ?REAT5 TO MAKE ! T]MS ALMO/ MEAN+LESS-LEAV+ NO WAY TO DI/+UI% A SPAT BETWE5 SI/]S OR SOME O!R FAMILY QU>REL & A REVOLUTION OR A CIVIL W>4 ,P]HAPS4 ,BUT ?IS K9D ( BREAD? HAS ADVANTAGES AS WELL4 ,IF POLITICS 7& HI/ORY7 IS SOME?+ 9TR9SIC TO ! NATURE ( SOCIAL LIFE1 EV5 ( ORD9>Y1 DAILY 9T]ACTION1 IF IT IS SOME?+ :I* EV]YONE IS ALWAYS DO+1 NOT JU/ ! P[]FUL2 !N IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE 5GAG+ 9 POLITICS OR MAK+ HI/ORY AS SOME?+ :I* DOES NOT NECESS>ILY HAVE TO 9VOLVE PREV5T+ ANYONE ELSE FROM DO+ SO4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 RA!R ?AN ASSUM+ ?AT P[] & EXCLUSION >E 9TR9SIC TO ! V]Y NATURE ( POLITICS1 IT ALL[S ONE TO AT LEA/ IMAG9E A POLITICS & A HI/ORY ?AT C\LD /ILL BE GO+ ON )\T !M4 

,!SE DEF9ITIONS HAVE O!R IMPLICATIONS AS WELL4 ,IF IT IS REALLY TRUE 7AS ,MOHANTY SUGGE/S7 ?AT :AT MAKES US HUMAN IS ABOVE ALL \R CAPACITY TO MAKE HI/ORY1 & IF HI/ORY CONSI/S ( ACTIONS ?AT C\LD NOT HAVE BE5 PR$ICT$ BE=EH&1 !N ?AT W\LD MEAN ?AT ! FUNDAM5TAL MEASURE ( \R HUMANITY LIES 9 :AT WE CANNOT KN[ AB\T EA* O!R4 ,TO RECOGNIZE ANO!R P]SON AS HUMAN W\LD !N BE TO RECOGNIZE ! LIMITS ( ONE'S POSSIBLE KN[L$GE ( !M4 ,!IR HUMANITY IS 9SEP>ABLE FROM !IR CAPACITY TO SURPRISE US4 

,9 A WAY1 ?IS FITS QUITE WELL ) :AT ,I WAS SAY+ AB\T :Y AN?ROPOLOGI/S >E ABLE TO RECOGNIZE !Y >E NOT DEAL+ ) A FUNDAM5TALLY DIFF]5T SORT ( BE+4 ,! CON/ANT PROCESS ( ASSESS+ O!R PEOPLES' *>ACT]S1 :I* ,I SUGGE/$ IS AN 9EVITABLE FEATURE ( ANY RELATION BETWE5 PEOPLE1 >E SO MANY 9NUM]ABLE IMP]FECT WAYS ( APPROXIMAT+ SOME?+ ?AT ULTIMATELY CAN NOT BE KN[N3 H[ EXACTLY ?AT P]SON IS LIKELY TO BEHAVE4 7,*>ACT]1 NOT$ ,>I/OTLE1 EM]GES FROM ACTION47 ,BUT ?IS IS :Y = ALL !Y >E NECESS>ILY P>TIAL1 FLAW$-LIKE BITS ( CLO? PA/$ OV] SOME?+ ?AT'S 9VISIBLE-!Y NONE!LESS SEEM TO CONVEY SU* AN IMM$IATE S5SE ( COMMON HUMANITY4 

,WRIT+ 

,AT ?IS PO9T ,I CAN RETURN BRIEFLY TO ! QUE/ION ( /YLE4 ,?IS BOOK CONTA9S A NUMB] ( LITTLE DIALOGUES1 RANG+ FROM SIMPLE TWO-WAY DIALOGUES BETWE5 MYSELF & ONE O!R P]SON1 & SC5ES 9 :I* SOMETIMES AS MANY AS F\R OR FIVE DIFF]5T PEOPLE DISCUSS SOME ISSUE ) EA* O!R AS ,I SIMPLY SAT & LET ! TAPE RECORD] RUN4 ,9 TRANSLAT+ !SE DIALOGUES1 ,I DID MY BE/ TO CONVEY SOME?+ ( ! SPEAK]'S P]SONALITIES1 TONE1 & G5]AL ATTITUDE- BUT USUALLY1 PROVID$ V]Y LITTLE 9 ! WAY ( SETT+1 CONTEXT1 H[ !SE PEOPLE HAD COME TO BE TALK+ >\ND MY TAPE RECORD]4 ,DIALOGUES LIKE ?IS >E SLI<TLY UNUSUAL 9 MOD]N E?NOGRAPHIC WRIT+1 BUT H>DLY SOME?+ NEW4 ,/ILL1 :5 ,I %[$ SU* TEXTS TO FELL[ AN?ROPOLOGI/S1 !Y W\LD (T5 BE SLI<TLY DUBI\S4 0,AH1 BUT H[ CAN Y\ KN[ :AT !SE PEOPLE W]E REALLY ?9K+01 OR 0H[ CAN Y\ KN[ EV]Y?+ ?AT'S REALLY GO+ ON DUR+ SU* A CONV]SATION80 ,IT WAS SAID 9 SU* A WAY AS TO IMPLY ?AT !RE WAS SOME?+ V]Y 9ADEQUATE AB\T SU* 9=MATION IF ONE C\LD NOT4 ,AT FIR/ ! REACTION TOOK ME QUITE ABACK4 ,IT HAD NEV] OCCURR$ TO ME ONE W\LD EV5 BE ABLE TO KN[ ! FULL MOTIVATIONS ( ALL ! SPEAK]S 9 ANY CONV]SATION4 ,IT WAS NOT EV5 CLE> :AT IT W\LD MEAN TO4 ,& EV5 IF ONE HAD SOME WAY ( KN[+ ?AT ONE ( ! P>TICIPANTS 91 SAY1 A TRANSCRIB$ CONV]SATION AB\T ,VAZIMBA WAS LEAV+ \T SOME EMB>ASS+ DETAIL1 OR WAS DESP]ATELY TRY+ TO IMPRESS A WOMAN ACROSS ! ROOM HE HAD FALL5 9 LOVE )-OR = ?AT MATT] WAS WOND]+ AB\T :AT K9D ( PRICE HE W\LD GET = MY TAPE RECORD] IF HE /OLE IT-:AT W\LD BE ! PO9T ( 9CLUD+ ?IS 9=MATION8 ,IT W\LD NOT HAVE MU* BE>+ ON ! SUBJECT ( ,VAZIMBA4 ,I HAD ASSUM$ ?AT ! V]Y ACT ( REPRODUC+ ! CONV]SATION 9 RELATIVELY COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE W\LD BE 5\< TO CONVEY TO ! READ] A S5SE ?AT NONE ( !SE VOICES >E ABSOLUTELY AU?ORITATIVE1 ?AT EV]Y?+ SAID IS AT LEA/ A LITTLE 9COMPLETE1 SLANT$1 & SUBJECTIVE-:I* IS ALL ANY FUR!R DETAILS W\LD HAVE DEMON/RAT$ ANYH[4 

,JAMES ,CLIF=D 7#a#i#h1 #a#i#h#f1 #a#i#h#h7 HAS 9SI/$ ?AT E?NOGRAPHIC KN[L$GE IS ALWAYS1 BY ITS NATURE 9COMPLETE & P>TIAL2 & ,I WILL AGREE ?AT IT IS A BIT DI/URB+ ?AT ?IS PO9T EV] HAD TO BE MADE1 ?AT IT WAS NOT ALWAYS CONSID]$ SELF-EVID5T4 ,S9CE ,CLIF=D'S WORK1 & ! 0CRISIS ( REPRES5TATION0 :I* %OOK AN?ROPOLOGY 9 ! #a#i#hS1 AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE BECOME US$ TO ?9K+ CRITICALLY AB\T ! PROCESS BY :I* E?NOGRAPHIC KN[L$GE IS CON/RUCT$4 ,?IS-ALONG ) AN 7EQUALLY PO/MOD]N7 CONC]N ) ! DYNAMICS ( SOCIAL /RATEGIES & MANEUV]+-IS ( C\RSE ! REAL CONTEXT = MY FRI5DS' REACTION TO ?OSE DIALOGUES1 ! URGE TO IMM$IATELY />T REFLECT+ OV] ! POLITICAL DYNAMICS ?AT PROBABLY LAY BEH9D !M4 ,ANYONE :O HAS READ ?IS BOOK WILL BE WELL AW>E ?AT ,I MYSELF AM NOT 5TIRELY UNCONC]N$ ) SU* QUE/IONS4 ,BUT :AT WAS REALLY /RIK+ WAS ! URGE TO UND]/& EV]Y?+1 ! S5SE ?AT SIMPLY REPRODUC+ :AT WAS SAID1 ) A FEW TELL+ DETAILS TO GIVE CONTEXT1 WAS SOMEH[ DECEPTIVE4 ,TO WRITE 9 A WAY :I* TAKES = GRANT$ ?AT ONE W\LD NEV] BE ABLE TO REVEAL EV]Y?+1 ?AT >T IS ! >T ( SELECT+ DETAILS1 IS P]HAPS ! HALLM>K ( A LIT]>Y S5SIBILITY4 ,BUT AT MOM5TS LIKE ?IS ! PO/MOD]N S5SIBILITY-= ALL IT DRAWS ITS 9SPIRATION FROM LIT]>Y !ORY-SEEMS TO MOVE 9 PRECISELY ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION1 & 5DS UP SLIPP+ 9TO A K9D ( P]V]SE1 EXTREME SCI5TISM3 AS IF IT W]E ONLY IF ONE C\LD KN[ ?AT PRECISELY :AT EV]YONE WAS ?9K+1 EV]Y HIDD5 /RATEGY AT PLAY1 ?AT WE C\LD HAVE REAL KN[L$GE4.<#i.> ,NOT SURPRIS+ !N ?AT MANY CONCLUDE ?AT REAL KN[L$GE IS IMPOSSIBLE4 

,TO ME ! ISSUE IS NOT :E!R ?IS SORT ( KN[L$GE IS POSSIBLE 7IT OBVI\SLY ISN'T7 BUT :Y ANYONE W\LD EV5 WANT IT4 ,W\LD ANYONE REALLY WANT TO LIVE 9 A WORLD :]E IT WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE ?IS K9D ( TOTAL & 5COMPASS+ KN[L$GE ( ANO!R HUMAN BE+8 ,BY ! DEF9ITIONS ,I'VE BE5 DEVELOP+ 9 P>TICUL>1 IT W\LD BE ! ULTIMATE DEHUMANIZATION4 

,MY [N >GUM5T IS ?AT RA!R ?AN SEE+ ! LIMITS ( \R KN[L$GE AS A PROBLEM1 IT W\LD BE MU* BETT] TO SEE IT AS ! BE/ BASIS ON :I* TO BUILD A BROAD] S5SE ( HUMAN COMMONALITY4 ,IF NO?+ ELSE1 IT W\LD NOT BE AN E?NOC5TRIC ONE1 PRONE TO ! USUAL CRITICISMS ?AT IT WAS NO?+ BUT A PROJECTION ( A V]Y P>TICUL> ,WE/]N IDEA ( ! RATIONAL ,SUBJECT4 ,9 FACT1 ,I D\BT IT W\LD BE POSSIBLE TO F9D ANO!R CULTURAL TRADITION ?AT EV5 5T]TA9S ! FANTASY ?AT IT MI<T BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE SU* COMPREH5SIVE KN[L$GE ( O!RS4 

,TO SAY ?IS IS NOT TO CLAIM ?AT PEOPLE >E NOT PRODUCTS ( !IR CULTURES1 ( SOCIAL & HI/ORICAL =CES BEYOND !IR UND]/&+1 ONLY TO SAY ?AT !Y >E NOT 5TIRELY SO-& ALSO1 ?AT IT IS ?IS FACT ?AT 5SURES ?AT SU* =CES >E NOT 5TIRELY BEYOND \R UND]/&+1 !Y >E NOT UNKN[ABLE 9 ! SAME ULTIMATE S5SE AS PEOPLE >E4 ,LET ME GIVE AN EXAMPLE ( :AT ,I MEAN4 ,! READ] MI<T RECALL H[1 9 *APT] #e1 ,I ASK$ ,*ANTAL :Y IT WAS ?AT PEOPLE ALWAYS SEEM$ TO CRY AT A FAMADIHANA1 EV5 ?\< IT WAS SUPPOS$ TO BE A HAPPY OCCASION1 & %E ASK$ ME H[ ,I W\LD FEEL IF SOMEONE PUT MY FA!R'S DECOMPOS+ BODY ON MY LAP4 ,H]E WAS A ,MALAGASY WOMAN1 & ONE :O KNEW ME RA!R WELL1 R$UC$ = ! MOM5T TO WOND]+ :E!R ,I MI<T NOT REALLY BE SOME SORT ( BIZ>RE1 ALI5 ,O!R AFT] ALL1 SIMPLY BY ! ?\<T ?AT ,I MI<T NOT BE EMOTIONALLY TRAUMATIZ$ BY SU* AN EXP]I5CE4 ,IT WAS NOT ! ONLY TIME ,I HAD SE5 ,MALAGASY WOM5 DISCUSS :E!R NON- ,MALAGASY REALLY HAD ! SAME DEP? ( EMOTIONS AS !Y DID1 :E!R !Y REALLY LOV$ & C>$ = EA* O!R & !IR FAMILIES ) ! SAME 9T5SITY1 :E!R 7BY IMPLICATION7 !Y W]E REALLY QUITE AS HUMAN4 ,IT WAS A FAMILI> PREJUDICE1 & ,I HAD APP>5TLY T\*$ IT (F 9 H]4 ,BUT ! SAME PEOPLE-,*ANTAL 9CLUD$-W]E 9 O!R CONTEXTS EQUALLY CAPABLE ( HOLD+ \T ! FACT ?AT ,MALAGASY PEOPLE DID1 9 FACT1 PLACE DECOMPOS+ BODIES ON EA* O!R'S LAPS AS P>T ( ! ESS5CE ( :AT MADE !M ,MALAGASY 7& ME1 :O HAD NEV] DONE ?IS1 A PR(\NDLY DIFF]5T SORT ( HUMAN BE+74 ,BO?- ID5TITIES BAS$ ON ! UNIV]SALITY ( C]TA9 EMOTIONAL REACTIONS1 & ?OSE BAS$ ON CULTURAL TRADITIONS->E EQUALLY CON/RUCT$4 ,I AM NOT SUGGE/+ ?AT WE %\LD BASE \R S5SE ( :AT IS FUNDAM5TALLY HUMAN ON ONE & NOT ! O!R4 ,:AT ,I AM SUGGE/+ IS ?AT WE %\LD BASE IT ON :ATEV] IT IS-?AT 9VISIBLE PO9T-?AT IS CAPABLE ( PIVOT+ BACK & =? BETWE5 ! TWO4 ,ON :ATEV] IT IS 79 ?IS CASE M>K$ BY ! NAME ',*ANTAL'7 ?AT IS ABLE TO TRY ON SU* ID5TITIES1 !N HOLD !M \T & LOOK AT !M FROM MORE ( A DI/ANCE1 9 ! PROCESS ( TRY+ TO DEF9E H]SELF BY DEF9+ H] RELATION TO O!R HUMAN BE+S4 ,IT IS ALSO :AT MAKES IT POSSIBLE = US TO CREATE CULTURE-:I* IS SOME?+ EV]YONE IS ALWAYS DO+1 S9CE CULTURE IS NO?+ MORE ?AN ! PROCESS ( ITS [N CREATION-& :I* MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO USE :AT WE KN[ ( H[ ?AT PROCESS ( CREATION T5DS TO WORK 9 ORD] TO UND]/& CULTURES WE HAVE NOT1 \RSELVES P]SONALLY1 HAD A ROLE 9 CREAT+4 ,:I* IS :AT MAKES IT POSSIBLE = !RE TO BE DISCIPL9ES LIKE AN?ROPOLOGY4 ,I MI<T NEV] BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY UND]/& ,*ANTAL-ANY MORE ?AN ,I WILL EV] BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY UND]/& ANYONE ELSE-BUT ?AT :I* MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE = EI!R ( US TO COMPLETELY UND]/& ! O!R IS ALSO :AT MAKES US BO? CAPABLE ( SITT+ D[N TOGE!R & TRY+ TO MAKE SOME G5]ALIZATIONS AB\T \R RESPECTIVE SOCIETIES & CULTURES4.<#a.> 

,I HAVE ALREADY NOT$ ! ,MALAGASY T5D5CY TO REPRES5T ! S\RCE ( HUMAN 9T5TIONS & AG5CY-SPIRITS1 <O/S1 ! S\L-AS SOME?+ HIDD51 9VISIBLE1 H5CE :I* CANNOT BE ULTIMATELY KN[N4.<#a#a.> ,?IS IS ACTUALLY A V]Y COMMON WAY ( REPRES5T+ ?+S4 ,AS ,I HAVE NOT$ ELSE:]E 7,GRAEB] #a#i#i#f71 IT APPE>S ALL OV] ! WORLD 9 CONCEPTIONS ( ?AT ASPECT ( ! P]SON :I* E?NOGRAPH]S MO/ (T5 REF] TO1 9 ,5GLI%1 AS 0! S\L0-:AT ,TYL] CALL$ ! 0LIFE S\L0-! HIDD5 SEAT ( HUMAN 9T5TIONALITY :I* GIVES US ! CAPACITY TO ACT4 ,EV5 :]E !RE IS NO EXPLICIT METAPHYSICAL !ORY1 PEOPLE DO TAKE IT = GRANT$ ?AT ONE CANNOT EV] REALLY KN[ :AT ANO!R P]SON IS LIKELY TO DO2 & USUALLY1 ?AT IT IS FROM ?IS UNKN[ABLE PLACE-9 ! HE>T1 ! HEAD1 ! ?ROAT1 ! LIV]1 :]EV] ONE HAPP5S TO PLACE IT-?AT ACTIONS1 IDEAS1 NEW UNPR$ICTABLE ?+S EM]GE4 

,$MUND ,LEA* 7#a#i#h#b3#a#h7 ONCE SUGGE/$ ?AT :AT UNITES ALL HUMAN BE+S IS NOT ?AT !Y >E 9 POSSESSION ( AN IMMORTAL S\L1 BUT !Y >E CAPABLE ( IMAG9+ ?AT !Y >E4 ,P]HAPS 7ASIDE FROM ! P>T AB\T 0IMMORTALITY07 !SE >E REALLY NOT SU* ALTOGE!R DIFF]5T ?+S4 

.<#a.> ,! DESCRIPTIVE APPROA* ,I'VE EMPLOY$1 :I* WEAVES CON/ANTLY BACK & =? BETWE5 MY [N ACC\NTS & RECON/RUCTIONS1 & ?OSE ( MY 9=MANTS1 PLAYS 9TO ?IS AS WELL2 :ATEV] ONE MI<T ?9K ( IT AS AN E?NOGRAPHIC /YLE1 IT DOES SEEM APPROPRIATE = A BOOK ?AT IS L>GELY AB\T ! CON/RUCTION & CIRCULATION ( N>RATIVES4 

.<#b.> ,IT IS 9T]E/+ TO NOTE ?AT ! PROBLEM ( 0KN[+ ! ,O!R0 WAS ORIG9ALLY ASK$ NOT BY AN?ROPOLOGI/S OR !IR CRITICS BUT BY ,EUROPEAN PHILOSOPH]S1 & NOT AB\T PEOPLE ( O!R CULTURES BUT AB\T ANYONE AT ALL4 ,! PROBLEM IS REALLY ! LEGACY ( ,DEC>TES1 :O LEFT ,WE/]N PHILOSOPHY ) ASSUMPTIONS SO UTT]LY1 RADICALLY 9DIVIDUALI/IC ?AT ! V]Y EXI/5CE ( O!R PEOPLE-LET ALONE ! POSSIBILITY ( KN[+ ANY?+ AB\T !M-BECAME PR(\NDLY PROBLEMATIC4 ,ANY NUMB] ( PHILOSOPH]S CONTRIBUT$ !IR [N PROPOS$ SOLUTIONS TO ?IS PROBLEM ( 0! ,O!R0 7,!UNISS5 #a#i#h#f71 ATTEMPT+ TO PROVE :Y IT WAS 9DE$ POSSIBLE TO KN[ ?AT ANYONE ELSE REALLY EXI/$1 5GAG$ 9 ?\<T1 & SO ON4 ,S>TRE1 = EXAMPLE1 D$ICAT$ A L>GE P>T ( ,BE+ & ,NO?+NESS 7#a#i#e#d71 9 :I* HE LAID D[N HIS BASIC SOCIOLOGICAL !ORY1 TO JU/ ?IS PROBLEM4 ,! T]M 0,O!R01 9 FACT1 APPE>S TO HAVE PASS$ 9TO SOCIAL CRITICISM L>GELY ?R\< ,S>TRE'S 9TELLECTUAL ALLIES & ASSOCIATES4 ,SIMONE DE ,BEAUVOIR 7,X,X,X71 = EXAMPLE1 >GU$ 9 ,! ,SECOND ,SEX ?AT M51 9 A MALE-DOM9AT$ SOCIETY1 T5D TO DEF9E WOM5 AS A K9D ( FUNDAM5TAL OR P]5NIAL ,O!R1 :I* MAKES IT V]Y DIFFICULT = WOM5 TO ACT AS SUBJECTS 9 !IR [N RI<T2 ,FRANZ ,FANON1 9 ,BLACK ,SK91 ,:ITE ,MASKS 7#a#i#e#f71 MADE A RA!R SIMIL> >GUM5T AB\T EFFECTS ( COLONIALISM4 ,N[1 BO? DE ,BEAUVOIR & ,FANON W]E MA9LY CONC]N$ ) :AT ALL ?IS MEANS = ! VICTIM1 BUT !IR WORK OP5$ ! WAY TO TAK+ A T]M9OLOGY ORIG9ALLY DEVELOP$ = DESCRIB+ RELATIONS BETWE5 9DIVIDUALS & ADOPT IT AS A WAY TO DESCRIBE ! POLITICAL RELATIONS BETWE5 GR\PS4 ,H5CE 9 A LOT ( CONTEMPOR>Y CRITICAL WRIT+ ONE F9DS ! OLD PROBLEM ( 'KN[+ ! ,O!R' TRANSPOS$1 ) AN AB/RACT BE+ CALL$ 0,EUROPE01 0! ,WE/01 0! ,EUROPEAN0 7OR EV5 0,EUROPE AS ,SUBJECT07 /RIV+ TO DEF9E ITSELF 9 RELATION TO AN 0,O!R0 :I* SEEMS TO 9CLUDE ANYONE OR EV]YONE ELSE4 ,& :ILE PHILOSOPH]S W]E USUALLY WILL+ TO ADMIT ?AT 9 ! 5D1 ONE C\LD PROBABLY KN[ SOME?+ AB\T O!R PEOPLE1 ON ?IS LEVEL1 IT USUALLY TURNS \T ?AT Y\ CAN'T3 ! ,O!R ALWAYS TURNS \T1 ?R\< V>I\S PROJECTIVE ME*ANISMS 7USUALLY BORR[$ FROM ,HEGEL OR PSY*OANALYSIS1 OR BO?7 TO BE NO?+ BUT A %AD[-IMAGE ( ONE'S [N SELF4 ,9 ACTUAL PRACTICE1 :5 SOMEONE ACCUSES AN AN?ROPOLOGI/- OR ALL AN?ROPOLOGI/S-( R$UC+ ! PEOPLE !Y DESCRIBE TO AN 0,O!R01 :AT !Y MEAN IS NOT QUITE SO GR&IOSE4 ,IT IS MU* MORE AB\T A C]TA9 WAY ( WRIT+4 ,ANY AU?OR HAS TO ASSUME A C]TA9 DEGREE ( COMMON GR\ND1 %>$ ) H] AUDI5CE-C]TA9 ASSUMPTIONS AB\T HUMAN LIFE & MOTIVATIONS1 :AT DOES NOT NE$ TO BE EXPLA9$4 ,:5 ?IS IS COMB9$ ) AN ASSUMPTION ?AT ! WAYS OR ATTITUDES ( C]TA9 O!R PEOPLE CANNOT BE TREAT$ ?IS WAY1 ?AT NE$S TO BE EXPLA9$ OR O!RWISE ACC\NT$ =1 !N ?IS IS :AT CAN BE CALL$ ,! ,O!R4 ,( C\RSE1 /AT$ ?IS WAY1 !RE IS NO REASON ?AT ?IS HAS TO REFLECT A RELATION ( DOM9ANCE3 BUT IT'S ALSO EASY TO SEE H[ IT USUALLY WILL4 ,A WOMAN = 9/ANCE CAN WRITE A BOOK = O!R WOM51 TO HELP !M TO BETT] UND]/& MALE PSY*OLOGY1 BUT SU* A BOOK W\LD BE CONSID]$ A G5RE BOOK1 ( SPECIALIZ$ 9T]E/ & NOT G5]IC KN[L$GE4 ,! UNIV]SAL P]SPECTIVE IS1 AT LEA/ 9 WRIT+1 USUALLY ASSUM$ TO BE ?AT ( ! DOM9ANT GR\P4 ,9 ?IS S5SE SPEAK+ ( 0O!R+0 DEF9ITELY DOES ADDRESS A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM1 ?\< RA!R1 IT SEEMS TO ME1 9 ! WAY ( PUTT+ A SL$GEHAMM] TO IT4 

.<#c.> ,I /ILL OCCASIONALLY F9D MYSELF US+ ,MALAGASY T]MS 9 SIZ+ UP PEOPLE H]E 9 ,AM]ICA4 

.<#d.> ,! L\DM\? J]K MI<T TURN \T TO SIMPLY HAVE HAD A /RANGE WAY ( REACT+ TO UNFAMILI> SITUATIONS 9VOLV+ =EIGN]S 7!N AGA91 IT MI<T TURN \T HE REALLY WAS A L\DM\? J]K74 

.<#e.> ,ASIDE ( C\RSE FROM CONVEY+ 9=MATION4 

.<#f.> ,ACTUALLY ! EXAMPLE 9 ! BACK ( MY M9D H]E IS ?AT ( C]TA9 CRITIQUES ,I HAVE HE>D ( ,R5ATO ,ROSALDO'S TREATM5T ( ,ILONGOT HEADHUNT+2 BUT ,I ?\<T BE/ TO LEAVE \T ! T]M 'HEADHUNT+' 9 ORD] TO EMPHASIZE ?AT IT IS NOT ! ACTUAL CUTT+ (F ( HEADS1 BUT MURD]1 :I* IS OBJECTIONABLE2 :AT ONE DOES ) ! BODY AFT]W>DS-CUTT+ (F ! P]SON'S HEAD1 OR = ?AT MATT]1 EAT+ IT-SEEMS TO ME A M]E QUE/ION ( ES!TICS 7UNLESS1 = 9/ANCE1 SU* ACTS >E DONE ) ! 9T5TION ( T]RORIZ+ OR TRAUMATIZ+ SOMEONE :O IS /ILL ALIVE74 ,H]E1 A RELATIVI/ W\LD BE P]FECTLY RI<T TO SAY !RE IS NO DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ?IS & ANY O!R KILL+4 ,I %\LD PROBABLY ALSO ADD ?AT1 GIV5 ! PRIOR FACT ( IMP]IALISM1 !RE IS NO D\BT ?AT SU* RELATIVISM CAN HAVE AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS 7AS ! WORK ( ,FRANZ ,BOAS1 = 9/ANCE1 UND\BT$LY DID74 ,BUT ?IS IS A DIFF]5T PO9T4 

.<#g.> ,& ( C\RSE1 MANY W\LD MAKE ! >GUM5T IT DOESN'T MEAN ?AT AT ALL4 

.<#h.> ,MY DEF9ITION IS 9 P>T 9SPIR$ BY A DEF9ITION ( HI/ORY PROPOS$ BY ,JOHN ,COM>(F3 ?AT 0HI/ORY IS ! CONCEPTUAL SPACE1 ! TIME ( HUMAN EXP]I5CE1 9 :I* SOCIAL SCI5TIFIC KN[L$GE- & MO/ ( ALL1 PR$ICTION-IS PROV5 WRONG0 79 ,COM>(F & ,/]N #a#i#i#d3#c#e74 ,BUT MY =MULATION IS SUFFICI5TLY DIFF]5T ?AT ,I D\BT HE W\LD WANT TO BE ID5TIFI$ ) IT4 

.<#i.> ,SEE ,COM>(F & ,COM>(F #a#i#i3#h-#a = AN ANALOGU\S CRITIQUE4 

.<#a.> ,! DOCTR9E ,I AM DESCRIB+ !N IS ALMO/ EXACTLY ! OPPOSITE ( ! WAY ! NOTION ( AN UNKN[ABLE ,O!R IS USUALLY 9VOK$4 ,I NOTE TOO ?AT :ILE ,I MYSELF W\LD FEEL DI/9CTLY UNCOM=TABLE ) ! PROSPECT ( ANYONE HAV+ COMPREH5SIVE KN[L$GE ( MY P]SONAL1 9DIVIDUAL M9D-,I REALLY DON'T SEE ANY?+ P>TICUL>LY FRI<T5+ AB\T SOMEONE ELSE BE+ ABLE TO HAVE 5COMPASS+ KN[L$GE ( MY ,AM]ICANESS1 MY WORK+ CLASS ORIG9S1 MY MIX$ ,JEWI% & ,G]MAN ANCE/RY1 MY MAL5ESS1 MY AVOCATION AS AN AN?ROPOLOGI/1 OR ANY O!R ASPECTS :I* >E SO OBVI\SLY PUBLIC & %>$ ) L>GE NUMB]S ( O!R PEOPLE4 

.<#a#a.> ,9 FACT1 MU* ( ! ?9K+ ON ! NATURE ( HAS9A DISCUSS$ AT V>I\S PO9TS 9 ! BOOK C\LD BE SE5 AS ! RUDIM5TS ( A SOCIAL !ORY1 TO TRY TO PUT A NAME ON 9VISIBLE ME*ANISMS BY :I* A CONS5SUS BETWE5 !M BECOMES TRANSLAT$ 9TO A P[] :I*1 AS ,DURKHEIM NOT$1 SEEMS TO HAVE CO]CIVE =CE \TSIDE ( ANY 9DIVIDUAL4 

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