Witchcraft and selfcraft
European Journal of Sociology May 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1017/s0003975600007967 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | Argues that both Azande oracular procedures and modern pseudo-psychotherapy show indifference to contradiction because they focus on practical rather than theoretical questions. However, the pseudo-psychotherapeutic interaction's presumption of theory imports a principle of epistemological certainty that erodes moral accounting and privileges naturalistic explanation. Contrary to received anthropological opinion, the author proposes that psychotherapy's self-craft, not Azande witchcraft, is the closed system. |
Abstract
This essay explores the status of moral accounting in relation to contingent misfortune. It does so by comparing the oracular procedures of the Azande of Center Africa to a modern pseudo-psychotherapeutic interaction. Though the first is in principle mystical and the second rational, both forms of inquiry are shown to display a certain indifference to contradiction. The reason for this indifference rests with the consideration that both focus on practical rather than theoretical questions. Nevertheless, in the pseudo-psychotherapcutic interaction the presumption of theoryquatheory makes a difference. That presumption comports a principle of epistemological certainty, removing the ground from moral accounting while privileging naturalistic explanation. In this light, contrary to received anthropological opinion, it is the selfcraft of much psychotherapy rather than the witchcraft of the Azande that must count as a closed system.