The Domestication of the Savage MindCurrent theories and views on the differences in the 'mind' of human societies depend very much on a dichotomy between 'advanced' and 'primitive', or between 'open' and 'closed', or between 'domesticated' and 'savage', that is to say, between one of a whole variety of 'we-they' distinctions. Professor Goody argues that such an approach prevents any serious discussion of the mechanisms leading to long-term changes in the cognitive processes of human cultures or any adequate explanation of the changes in 'traditional' societies that are taking place in the world around us. In this book he attempts to provide the framework for a more satisfactory explanation by relating certain broad differences in 'mentalities' to the changes in the means of communication, and specifically to the series of shifts involved in the development of writing. The argument is based upon theoretical considerations, as well as empirical evidence derived from recent fieldwork in West Africa and the study of a wide range of source material on the ancient societies of the Near East. |
Contents
Evolution and communication | 1 |
Intellectuals in preliterate societies? | 19 |
Literacy criticism and the growth of knowledge | 36 |
Literacy and classification on turning the tables | 52 |
Whats in a list? | 74 |
Following a formula | 112 |
The recipe the prescription and the experiment | 129 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract Africa Akkadian alphabetic analysis Ancient Greece aspects associated Bagre binary Cambridge changes characteristics classificatory clearly cognitive complex concepts context cowries creative critical cuneiform script dichotomy discourse discussion distinction Dogon Durkheim earlier elaborate elements epic example formalisation formula Ghana Gonja Goody grapheme graphic growth of knowledge Hausa hence Horton implications individual influence kind language later learning Lévi-Strauss linguistic lists literacy literate LoDagaa logograms magic means ment Mesopotamia mind modes of thought myth names nature Needham Neolithic Ninurta non-literate societies north crane Nyoro oral cultures organisation particular pre-literate societies primitive classification problem rationality recipes reciters recording reference relationship role scientific scribes semantic sense signs similar simply social specific speech standardised oral forms structure Sumer Sumerian tablets thinking tion traditional Ugarit University verbal West Africa words writing systems written Zuñi