The Group for Debates in Anthropological Theory (GDAT), The University of Manchester: The 2011 annual debate – Non-dualism is philosophy not ethnography. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Venkatesan, Soumhya; Martin, Keir; Scott, Michael W; Pinney, Christopher; Ssorin-Chaikov, Nikolai; Cook, Joanna; Strathern, Marilyn
• Is Part Of: Critique of anthropology. Volume 33:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 300
• Page End: 360
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: Non-dualism -- ethnography -- philosophy -- debate -- GDAT; Anthropology -- Periodicals; 301.205
• DOI: 10.1177/0308275X13490310
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-275X

Abstract

Does the concept of non-dualism have ethnographic purchase or is it mainly of philosophical interest? This article comprises the edited presentation and discussions of the 2011 GDAT debate on the motion 'Non-dualism is Philosophy not Ethnography'. The debaters proposing the motion were Michael Scott and Nikolai Ssorin-Chaikov. They were opposed by Christopher Pinney and Joanna Cook. Marilyn Strathern acted as jester – playfully and rigorously engaging with all four speakers. The presentations and the discussions that followed were wide ranging, lively and stimulating.