Rationality
Rationality contains a selection of the best contemporary
writing on one of the central issues in the philosophy of social
science. The contributors address themselves to questions which
have increasingly become the subject of a many-sided debate between
philosophers, sociologists and anthropologists: How are we to
understand the beliefs and actions of other men in other cultures?
Can we translate the meanings and the reason of one culture into
the language of another.
This volume is essential reading for courses on the methodology and
philosophy of social science and is so arranged that the student is
introduced step by step to the cut and thrust of scholarly debate.
Acknowledgements vi
A Sociologist's Introduction vii
1 The Idea of a Social Science 1
2 Concepts and Society 18
3 Explaining Cargo Cults 50
4 Is Understanding Religion Compatible with Believing? 62
5 Understanding a Primitivb Socibty 78
6 The Idea of a Social Science 112
7 African Traditional Thought and Western Sciencb 131
8 The Problem of the Rationality of Magic 172
9 Some Problems About Rationality 194
10 The Limits of Irrationality 214
11 Reason and Ritual 221
12 On Understanding Ritual 240
Bibliography 269
Index of Names 273
A Sociologist's Introduction vii
1 The Idea of a Social Science 1
2 Concepts and Society 18
3 Explaining Cargo Cults 50
4 Is Understanding Religion Compatible with Believing? 62
5 Understanding a Primitivb Socibty 78
6 The Idea of a Social Science 112
7 African Traditional Thought and Western Sciencb 131
8 The Problem of the Rationality of Magic 172
9 Some Problems About Rationality 194
10 The Limits of Irrationality 214
11 Reason and Ritual 221
12 On Understanding Ritual 240
Bibliography 269
Index of Names 273
Bryan Wilson is the author of Rationality, published by Wiley.
