The logic of writing and the organization of society / Jack Goody.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Goody, Jack.

Series:

Studies in literacy, the family, culture, and the state.

Studies in literacy, the family, culture, and the state

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Writing--History.

Writing.

History.

Writing--Social aspects.

Social evolution.

Civilization, Ancient.

Africa, West--Civilization.

Africa, West.

West Africa.

Civilization.

Physical Description:

xvii, 213 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge [Cambridgeshire] ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1986.

Summary:

This book assesses the impact of writing on human societies, both in the Ancient Near East and in contemporary Africa, and highlights some general features of social systems that have been influenced by this major change in the mode of communication. Such features are central to any attempt at the theoretical definition of human society and such constituent phenomena as religious and legal systems, and in this study Professor Goody explores the role of a specific mechanism, the introduction of writing and the development of a written tradition, in the explanation of some important social differences and similarities. Goody argues that a shift of emphasis from productive to certain communicative processes is essential to account adequately for major changes in human societies. Whilst there have been previous discussions of the effect of literacy upon social organisation, no study has hitherto presented the general synthesis developed here.

Contents:

Studies in Literacy, Family, Culture and the State: an introduction vii

1 The word of God 1

The concept of 'a'/'the' religion 4

Boundaries 4

Change 6

Obsolescence 8

Incorporation or conversion 10

Universalism and particularism 10

Cognitive contradictions in the general and the specific 13

Specialization: priests and intellectuals 16

Endowment and alienation 18

The twin bureaucracies 19

Organizational and structural autonomony 20

The Great and Little Traditions: spirit cults and world religions 22

Writing and religion in Ancient Egypt 26

Writing and religion in other early civilizations 35

Ritual and writing 42

2 The word of mammon 45

The origin of writing and the ancient economy 48

Writing and the temple economy 55

Writing and the palace economy 62

Writing and the mercantile economy 71

Writing and individual transactions 77

Writing and the economy in Africa 82

3 The state, the bureau and the file 87

Bureaucracies 89

The administration of early states with writing 92

Internal administration 93

External administration 97

The administration of states without writing 99

External administration 100

Internal administration 103

Writing in the colonial and national administrations 113

Writing and the political process 119

4 The letter of the law 127

The definition of law 129

Courts, constables and codes 132

Sources of law and changes of rule 135

Legal reasoning 140

Court organization 142

Legal forms 144

The expansion of writing and law in medieval England 159

The letter and the spirit of the law 165

5 Ruptures and continuities 171.

Notes:

Includes index.

Bibliography: pages 194-205.

ISBN:

0521327458

0521339626

OCLC:

13526682