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The Philosophy of Shared Poverty: rethinking Agricultural Involution and the Culture of Geertz
Author(s) -
HAMMAR LAWRENCE
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of historical sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.186
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1467-6443
pISSN - 0952-1909
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6443.1988.tb00125.x
Subject(s) - involution (esoterism) , sociology , epistemology , poverty , social science , political science , philosophy , law , consciousness
This paper discusses, and comprehensively rejects, Geertz’ concept of ‘involution’ as applied to the historical sociology of rural development in Indonesia. Geertz’ analysis is outlined, together with the criticisms it has occasioned; the paper then moves to a consideration of central methodological issues in the involution debate. It concludes with a critique of Geertz’ use of the concept of Culture as confusing rather than clarifying the issues at stake.