Clifford geertz published numerous essays, books, and articles. Washington clifford geertz, an anthropologist whose imaginative studies of cultural groups from other countries changed the intellectual underpinnings of anthropology and other social sciences, died oct. Clifford geertz the scientist, biography, facts and quotes. The ethnocentrism of clifford geertz the new criterion. Geertz, along with such scholars as donald mccloskey the rhetoric of economics, james boyd. Clifford geertz, american cultural anthropologist, a leading rhetorician and proponent of symbolic anthropology and interpretive anthropology.
Im probably a closet rhetorician, although im coming out of the closet a bit. The most influential aspect of geertzs work has been his emphasis on the importance of the symbolic of systems of meaning as it relates to culture, cultural change, and the study of culture. An interview with the anthropologist clifford geertz. He served until his death as professor emeritus at the. From its origins in classical thought and christianity, western culture has always had a strong tendency towards universalism. Excerpts from clifford geertzs religion as a cultural system. Clifford geertz basicbooks a subsidiary of ftrseus books, l. Geertzs influence is summed up by anthropologist sherry ortner, in the introduction to the fate of culture.
On our most famous anthropologist and the failures of the discipline. This principle has long been expressed in the idea of the unity of human kind and. In this chapter, geertz looks to define religion through a cultural lens in an attempt to advance the anthropological study of religion. After the fact clifford geertz harvard university press. Clifford geertz on writing and rhetoric lisa ede thejac interview with clifford geertz provides elegant confirmationif anyone needed itof the reasons why this closet rhetoricians work has drawn the attention of many in composition studies. Clifford geertz, who has died aged 80 of complications following heart surgery, was one of the most influential anthropologists of his generation.
Library of congress cataloging in publication data geertz, clifford. Do not be troubled by the fact that some reduced languages he has just invented for didactic purposes consist only of imperatives. Some philosophical assumptions in the work of clifford geertz1 diane j. The interpretation of cultures edition 2000 by clifford. The uses diversity tanner lectures on human values. Appropriate to its venue, the books addresses major questions, making strong theoretical and empirical claims. In four brief chapters, writes clifford geertz in his preface, i have attempted both to lay out a general framework for the comparative analysis of religion and to apply it to a study of the development of a supposedly single creed, islam, in two quite contrasting civilizations, the indonesian and the moroccan.
Shakespeares genius to lie in the fact that his characters are. The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz staff uny. Geertz observes, and believes, that the anthropological study of religion is stagnant due to a narrow focus on transcendent figures p. The interpretation of cultures by clifford geertz is a collection of essays that shows the evolving pattern of geertzs thought rather than a singular work with a unified theoretical stance.
Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this clifford geertz study guide and get instant access to the following biography. Clifford james geertz was an american anthropologist who is remembered mostly for his strong support for and influence on the practice of symbolic. Religious development in morocco and indonesia 1968, a collection of essays entitled the interpretation of cultures 1970, and after the fact. Drawing on his own background in philosophy and literary studies, geertz both. After the fact is clifford geertzs jerusalemharvard lectures, jointly sponsored by the hebrew university of jerusalem and harvard university. Clifford geertz 19262006 was a professor at the institute for advanced study at princeton university, and a fellow of the american academy of arts and sciences, the american philosophical society, the national academy of sciences, and the american association for the advancement of science. Further essays in interpretive anthropology, basic books, new york, 1983. Olson clifford geertz says it all in one crisp, succinct sentence. Clifford james geertz august 23, 1926 october 30, 2006 was an american anthropologist. Clifford geertz on ethnography and social construction gary a. Clifford geertz 1926present is best known for his ethnographic studies of javanese culture java is an indonesian island south of borneo and for his writings about the interpretation of culture. In particular, the paper considers the role of philosophical theories of meaning as formulated by susanne langer in clifford geertzs accounts of the nature of symbol ism.
Geertz begins his argument by outlining the problem conceptually and. Geertz on comparative anthropology and the lawfact. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Clifford james geertz august 23, 1926 october 30, 2006 was an american anthropologist who is known for his work in symbolic anthropology. Contents preface part i 4 chapter 11 thick description. Summary clifford geertz born as clifford james geertz in san francisco, u. A narrative presents itself, a tour of indices and trends, perhaps a memoir. A collection of academical essays in which geertz, with trademark ironic wit, invites readers to meditate with him on the central puzzle and conundrum of the humanities and interpretive social sciences. Toward an interpretive vii theory of culture 3 part ii chapter 21 the impact of the concept of culture on the concept of man 33 chapter 31 the growth of culture and the evolution of mind 55 part iii chapter 41 religion as a cultural system 87 chapter 51 ethos, world view, and the analysis of.
He is known for his strong support for and influence on the practice of symbolic anthropology. Suppose, clifford geertz suggests, having entangled yourself every now and again over four decades or so in the goingson in two provincial towns, one a southeast asian bend in the road, one a north african outpost and passage point, you wished to say something about how those goingson had changed. Continuing my series of notes on clifford geertzs local knowledge. Clifford geertz 19262006 was perhaps the most influential anthropologist of our time, but his influence extended far beyond his field to encompass all facets of contemporary life. He was considered for 30 years one of the most important cultural anthropologists in. Harvard university press harvard university press 1926 2006 read obituary. Clifford geertz is one of the foremost figures in the reconfiguration of the boundary between the social sciences and the humanities for the second half of the twentieth century. Writing and interpretation article pdf available in sociologija 441 january 2002 with 1,891 reads how we measure reads. Clifford geertzs influential definition of religions as providing their members with both an ethos and a worldviewin his terms, both a model for and model of realityhas of late become a neuralgic point of contention in religious studies. Geertz the uses of diversity 255 strauss, incorrigible, read his entire text, apparently at high speed, in the time left. In looking back on four decades of anthropology in the field, clifford geertz creates a personal history that is also a retrospective reflection on. But said, who doles out praise rather rarely, also suggests that there have been a few exceptions, notably in the anthropology of clifford geertz, whose interest in islam is discrete and concrete enough to be animated by the specific societies and problems he studies and not by the rituals, preconceptions, and doctrines of orientalism. Clifford geertz interpretation of cultures konspektid. Human nature, presumably everywhere one and the same, comes to us only in its local varieties, as a bewildering diversity of languages, cultures, cultural practices, beliefs, mentalities.
Austin the paper examines some of the philosophical bases of clifford geertzs work. Two countries, four decades, one anthropologist article pdf available in arbitrium 171. The ethnocentrism of clifford geertz by keith windschuttle. The interpretation of cultures selected essays by clifford geertz basic books, inc. He served until his death as professor emeritus at the institute for advanced study, princeton. Navy in world war ii 194345, geertz studied at antioch college, ohio b. Clifford james geertz august 23, 1926 october 30, 2006 was an american anthropologist who is remembered mostly for his strong support.
For full interview or interviews of many others, please see. Clifford geertz 19262006 served on the faculty of the institute for advanced study in princeton, new jersey. Clifford geertz american anthropologist britannica. Common sense as a cultural system by clifford geertz very early on in that album of notional games and abrupt metaphors he called philosophical investigations, wittgenstein compares language to a city. Reading notes religion as a cultural system clifford geertz. Fact and law in comparative perspective first presented as the storrs lectures for 1981 at yale law school. August 23, 1926 october 30, 2006 was an american anthropologist who is remembered mostly for his strong support for and influence on the practice of symbolic anthropology, and who was considered for three decades.