Chapter 6 Reading Response
Chapter 6 Reading Response
According to the norms of the Western world, people recognize themselves as “human beings”. The other inhabitants of the earth are called “living things”. Though both animals and humans are organisms, people are considered to be persons, thus, more than just organisms. This is one of the paradoxes of the modern science. In this chapter Ingold argues that the anthropocentric view on the world is not the only possible. He writes about Ojibwa and their perception of the environment in order to restore “restoring human beings to the organic lifeworld in a way that does not, at the same time, reduce them to mere objects of nature” (Ingold, 2000, p.90). This chapter is important because it refers to one of the main philosophic and scientific questions – the difference between beings and things.
In this chapter Ingold provides an insight into the way of the continuous relations between humans and other inhabitants. He also points at the difference between stories and myths and their importance for understanding the Western culture and cultures of non-Western societies. Also, the author offers the solution to the paradox shown in the introduction on the example of Ojibwa societies. However, this paradox of people’s perception still needs to be researched. The conclusion explains how the content of the chapter, the description of Ojibwa beliefs answers the question of things and beings.
In this chapter Ingold uses the ethnographic material from “Ojibwa ontology, behavior and world view” by Hallowell, first published in 1960. This article explores the life of the society from the circumpolar North. Furthermore, the chapter is supported by his own observations.
How the Ojibwa understanding of the world can contribute to the science?
Reference
Ingold, T. (2000). The perception of the environment: essays on livelihood, dwelling
and skill. Psychology Press.
