Demystifying MentalitiesCambridge University Press, 1990 M08 31 - 174 pages If faraway peoples have different ideas from our own, is this because they have different mentalities? Did our remote ancestors lack logic? The notion of distinct mentalities has been used extensively by historians to describe and explain cultural diversity. Professor Lloyd rejects this psychologising talk of mentalities and proposes an alternative approach, which takes as its starting point the social contexts of communication. Discussing apparently irrational beliefs and behaviour (such as magic), he shows how different forms of thought coexist in a single culture but within conventionally defined contexts. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Mentalities metaphors and the foundations of science | 14 |
Magic and science ancient and | 39 |
The conception and practice of proof | 73 |
geometry and proof in Vedic ritual | 98 |
A test case China and Greece comparisons and contrasts | 105 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
activity already analysis ancient Greek appear application areas argument Aristotle attempt authors beliefs called century certain certainly chapter China Chinese claim clear common concepts concerned considered constitution contexts contrast course criticism culture debate demonstration discourse discussion distinction divergent doubt early especially evidence example existence experience explicit expression factors fields forms further given Greece groups Hippocratic ideas important influence inquiry instance interest interpretation issues kind knowledge language later least less literal logic magic mathematics matter means medicine mentalities merely metaphor method Moreover namely nature noted notion once original particular period philosophy physical Plato political positive possible practice present primitive principle problems proof question reasoning refer relation remarked represented rhetoric scientific sense similarities social society speculative statements styles suggest texts theory things thought traditional true types understanding variety whole writers