Re: [xmca] motive/project

The first time I responded to mike's mother-breast-feeding-infant query, I forgot to reply "to all".  Here's the original reply.

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mike,

I  think it's an overgeneralization.  Reciprocity, as defined in Mauss'
"The Gift", would not fit the mother-newborn relationship. I don't know
exactly how that could be seen as an economic system of exchange.  The
"gift" (don) involves obligations to return the gift. 

You tell me, do newborns (or even newborns fifteen years later)
fell the obligation to return the gift?  Does the mother suckling her
new born consider the act to be a gift from which she expects some form
of "return"?

Paul

      
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Received on Mon Dec 22 12:27:42 2008