Techniques, Technology and Civilization

Description

Marcel Mauss's writings on techniques and technology are at the forefront of an important anthropological and sociological research tradition, and they also highlight the theoretical and ideological challenges surrounding this field of study. A selection of Mauss's texts — including his major statements on methodology, on body techniques, on practical reason, on nation and civilisation, on progress, and so forth — are here translated and presented together for the first time, with a discussion of their context, impact and implications. This book will interest scholars and students dealing with the French sociological tradition, and also more generally those concerned with technology and material culture studies in archaeological,anthropological or contemporary settings. Techniques , Technology and Civilisation Contents Preface Acknowledgements A Note on the Illustrations I Approaching technology II Durkheim and the containment of technology Material density and methodological materialism Retraction - Sorel and Labriola The religious turn Disengagements from technology 1 - the Annee sociologique Disengagements from technology 2 - the Elementary Forms of Religious Life Transition to Mauss: beyond things that present no danger Bergsonian challenges Socialising techniques Techniques redeemed Conservative views Diffusionist circles Conclusions-humanity and humility Notes Text 1 Technology (1901) Text 2 Technology. Introduction (1903) Text 3 Note on the Concept of Civilisation (1913) Text 4 Extract 1 Extract 2 I. Civilisation II. Technique Text 5 Extract 1 Extract 2 Text 6 Debate on the Origins of Human Technology (1929) Text 7 Civilisations, Their Elements and Forms (1929/1930) Introduction I. Facts of civilisation II. Civilisations. Forms of civilisation III. Ordinary meaning of the word civilisation Text 8 Fragment of a Plan of General Descriptive Sociology (on Tradition) (1934, extract) Text 9 Techniques of the Body (1935) Chapter Two: Principles of the Classification of Techniques of the Body 1. Sexual division of techniques of the body (and not just division of labour among the sexes) 2. Variations of techniques of the body with age 3. Classification of techniques of the body according to efficiency 4. Transmission of the form of the techniques Chapter Three: A Biographical List of the Techniques of the Body 1. Techniques of birth and obstetrics 2. Techniques of infancy 3. Techniques of adolescence 4. Techniques of adult life Chapter Four: General Considerations Notes References Text 10 Technology (1935/1947) Techniques of the body1 General techniques with general uses Mechanical techniques Fire9 Special techniques with general uses/ General industries with special uses Basketry12 Pottery14 Esparto goods and rope making Glues and resins Weaponry17 Specialised industries with special uses Consumption Industries of acquisition Industries of production Stockbreeding31 Industries of protection and comfort Transportation industries42 Notes Text 11 Conceptions Which Have Preceded the Notion of Matter (1939) Text 12 Techniques and Technology (1941/1948) Biographical Notes Balfour, Henry (1863-1939) Bastian, Adolf (1826-1905) Bergson, Henri (1859-1941) Boas, Franz (1858-1942) Cushing, Frank Hamilton (1857-1900) Durkheim, Emile (1858-1917) Espinas, Victor Alfred (1844-1922) Febvre, Lucicn (1878-1956) Frobcnius, Leo (1873-1938) Graebner, Fritz (1877-1934) Halbwachs, Maurice (1877-1945) Haudricourt, Andrc-Georgcs (1911-1996) Hertz, Robert (1881-1915) Holmes, William Henry (1846-1933) Hubert, Henri (1872-1927) Leroi-Gourhan, Andre (1911-1986) Levy-Bruhl, Lucien (1857-1939) Mason, Otis Tufton (1838-1908) Mauss, Marcel (1872-1950) Meyerson, Ignace (1888-1983) Montandon, Georges (1879-1944) Nordenskiold, Erland Nils Herbert (1877-1932) Powell, John Wesley (1834—1902) Ratzel, Friedrich (1844—1904) Reuleaux, Franz (1829-1905) Rivers, William liaise (1864-1922) Rivet, Paul (1876-1958) Schmidt, Wilhelm (1868-1954) Simiand, Francois (1873-1935) Sorel, Georges (1847-1922) Spengler, Oswald (1880-1936) General Bibliography 12. Index