Description:
Jointly authored by an anthropologist and a philosopher, this book investigates some of the most puzzling ideas and practices reported in modern ethnography and ancient philosophy concerning topics such as humans, animals, persons, spirits, agency, selfhood, consciousness, nature, life, death, disease and health.
Brief description:
Geoffrey Lloyd is Emeritus Professor of Ancient Philosophy and Science at the University of Cambridge. He was Master of Darwin College, Cambridge, from 1989 to 2000. Among his most notable publications are Magic, Reason and Experience (Cambridge University Press, 1979), and Cognitive Variantions (Oxford University Press, 2007).
Review Quotes:
"This is a work of outstanding interest and originality, both in form and in content." - Nicholas Jardine, Cambridge University
"This is a rare treat: a sequence of conversations between an anthropologist and a philosopher who tease out a series of fascinating questions, notably those posed to the mind of the philosopher by the materials of the anthropologist. It is a hugely illuminating exercise, because of who they are and what they are discussing." - Marilyn Strathern, Cambridge University