A General Theory of Magic
by Marcel Mauss
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Description
First written by Marcel Mauss and Henri Humbert in 1902, A General Theory of Magic gained a wide new readership when republished by Mauss in 1950. As a study of magic in 'primitive' societies and its survival today in our thoughts and social actions, it represents what Claude L¿-Strauss called, in an introduction to that edition, the astonishing modernity of the mind of one of the century's greatest thinkers. The book offers a fascinating snapshot of magic throughout various cultures as show more well as deep sociological and religious insights still very much relevant today. At a period when art, magic and science appear to be crossing paths once again, A General Theory of Magic presents itself as a classic for our times. show lessTags
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A more thorough justification for a conclusion earlier found in Durkheim's work, albeit in a comment only, that magic -- far from being the private and idiosyncratic practice it is often considered to be, in contrast to the communal and public religion -- magic is necessarily a social institution. Without the community of belief generating the context, magical rituals would be only irrational and absurd; but within that background they are powerful and meaningful.
Più copia del 2000
Clássico da Antropologia.
Jun 8, 2015Portuguese (Brazil)
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170 works; 1 member
Author Information
54+ Works 2,219 Members
Marcel Mauss (1872-1950) was the nephew and most distinguished student of Emile Durkheim
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- A General Theory of Magic
- Original title
- Sociologie et anthropologie
- Original publication date
- 1902
- First words
- For a long time, magic has been a matter for speculation.
Classifications
- Genres
- Anthropology, Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, General Nonfiction, Philosophy
- DDC/MDS
- 133.43 — Philosophy & psychology Parapsychology & occultism Specific topics in parapsychology and occultism Demonology and witchcraft Magic and witchcraft
- LCC
- BF1611 .M38 — Philosophy, Psychology and Religion Psychology Occult sciences Magic. Hermetics. Necromancy
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 281
- Popularity
- 113,970
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.54)
- Languages
- English, French, Italian, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 5
