1. Welcome to abracadabra
[L.; origin unknown. Occurs first in a poem by Q. Serenus Sammonicus,
2nd c.]
A cabalistic word, formerly used as a charm, and believed to have
the power, when written in a triangular arrangement, and worn
round the neck, to cure agues, etc. Now often used in the general
sense of a spell, or pretended conjuring word; a meaningless word
of mysterious sound; jargon, gibberish.
1696 AUBREY Misc. 105 Abracadabra, a Mysterious Word, to which the
Superstitious in former times attributed a Magical power to expel
Diseases, especially the Tertian-Ague, worn about their neck. 1810
BENTHAM Art of Packing (1821) 124 Thereby, in legal abracadabra,
like man and wife, but one person. 1824 COLERIDGE Aids to
Refl. (1848) I. 130 Leave him..to retaliate the nonsense of
blasphemy with the abracadabra of presumption. 1860 T. A. G. BALFOUR
Typ. Charac. Nat. 118 Abr?, which is here twice repeated, is
composed of the first letters of the Hebrew words signifying Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, viz. Ab, Ben, Ruach, Acadosch. 1879 Lit. World
5 Dec. 358/2 The new abracadabra of science, ?organic evolution.?
In philosophy, there is a subdiscipline known as 'epistemology'. This
is the body of questions that concern not what we know, but how we
come to know what we know.
In anthropology we take on the task of actually asking this question
about people, rather than discussing it abstractly.
In classical anthropology, the goal was to get inside another
culture's world view. To understand, for example, how the bororo
or the Cuna thought about the world. This class is no different,
except that the bororo and the Cuna are scientists, natural
philosophers, theologians and engineers. What you should get from
this class then, is the ability to make science and engineering,
and religion and art seem *strange*. To understand it by
literally standing under it and examinining it.
2. Who should be in the class?
class size is limited, to facilitate discussion
those already enrolled are guaranteed a spot, however,
- anthropology majors have first dibs
- seniors looking for distribution must come beg
- the class is not appropriate for first years, it is really
designed for people who have some experience in either
anthropology, or some other science and engineering discipline
3. about the class
- the syllabus and the sections of the class
- the readings-- history, literature, primary sources, film, and
theoretical texts.
- the structure: one or two lectures per week + one day of discussion.
4. Requirements of the class
- Attendance. As usual, I will probably be forced to do random
attendance checks. If you happen to be absent this day, bummer.
(extended absenses, or absenses that result in missed
deadlines, must be accompanied by documentation from the
dept. of Homeland Security).
- Participation. One of the ways I assign grades for
participation is if I can remember something you said and what you
voice sounds like.
- Assignments
- 5 Assignments
- Assignment 1 is a gimme. Introduce Yourself.
- Assignment 2 lasts all semester.
- Assignments 3,4,5 are fun, but serious. They will be
announced over the course of the semester.
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