Demystifying mentalities / G.E.R. Lloyd.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lloyd, G. E. R. (Geoffrey Ernest Richard), 1933-

Series:

Themes in the social sciences

Themes in the social sciences.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Belief and doubt--Cross-cultural studies.

Belief and doubt.

Evidence--Cross-cultural studies.

Evidence.

Cognition and culture.

Science--History.

Science.

History.

Cross-cultural studies.

Physical Description:

viii, 174 pages ; 24 cm.

Other Title:

Mentalities.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1990.

Summary:

If faraway peoples have different ideas from our own, is this because they have different mentalities? Did our remote ancestors lack logic? The notion of distinct mentalities has been used extensively by historians to describe and explain cultural diversity. Professor Lloyd rejects this psychologising talk of mentalities and proposes an alternative approach, which takes as its starting point the social contexts of communication. Discussing apparently irrational beliefs and behaviour (such as magic), he shows how different forms of thought coexist in a single culture but within conventionally defined contexts.

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 157-170)

ISBN:

0521366615

0521366801

OCLC:

20013325