Re: Functionalist Dilemma

Elsa de Mattos (emattos who-is-at magiclink.com.br)
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 09:33:27 -0300

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What is the meaning of "functionalist" in this case ?
Elsa
-----Mensagem original-----
De: Chris Francovich <cfran who-is-at micron.net>
Para: xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Data: Quarta-feira, 10 de Mar=E7o de 1999 15:35
Assunto: Functionalist Dilemma
=20
=20
Hello all:
=20
I am currently reading Mary Douglas' book How Institutions Think =
(1986, Syracuse University Press) and have come across a theme that is =
confusing me. I am enjoying the book wholeheartedly and wading through =
her discussion of latent groups but am confused with her statement =
"Without a functionalist form of argument, we cannot begin to explain =
how a thought world constructs the thought style that controls its =
experience." (p. 43). On its face this seems wholly sensible. I am =
enjoying the structure that she is bringing to my understanding of how =
we even define a cultural group.
=20
This, however, is contrasted with a statement (about a theme) that =
Jean Lave makes in Cognition in Practice (1988, Cambridge University =
Press): "The concept of cultural uniformity reflects functionalist =
assumptions about society as a consensual order, and cultural =
transmission as a process of homogeneous cultural reproductions across =
generations." (p. 10).
=20
Now I realize that using categories at the social level to describe, =
explain, or interpret phenomena at the local level is problematic. But =
isn't it necessary to use a functionalist argument even to get the ideas =
into language? And if we can't argue from a functionalist perspective =
what else is there?=20
=20
Any thoughts?
=20
Thanks,
=20
Chris Francovich

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What is the meaning of = "functionalist"=20 in this case ?
Elsa
-----Mensagem = original-----
De:=20 Chris Francovich <cfran@micron.net>
Para: = xmca@weber.ucsd.edu <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Dat= a:=20 Quarta-feira, 10 de Março de 1999 15:35
Assunto:=20 Functionalist Dilemma

Hello all:
 
I=20 am currently reading Mary Douglas' book How Institutions Think = (1986,=20 Syracuse University Press) and have come across a theme that is = confusing=20 me. I am enjoying the book wholeheartedly and wading through her = discussion=20 of latent groups but am confused with her statement "Without a=20 functionalist form of argument, we cannot begin to explain how a = thought=20 world constructs the thought style that controls its = experience." (p.=20 43). On its face this seems wholly sensible. I am enjoying the = structure=20 that she is bringing to my understanding of how we even define a = cultural=20 group.
 
This, however, is contrasted with a statement (about a = theme) that=20 Jean Lave makes in Cognition in Practice (1988, Cambridge University = Press):=20 "The concept of cultural uniformity reflects functionalist = assumptions=20 about society as a consensual order, and cultural transmission as a = process=20 of homogeneous cultural reproductions across generations." (p.=20 10).
 
Now I realize that using categories at the social level to = describe,=20 explain, or interpret phenomena at the local level is problematic. = But isn't=20 it necessary to use a functionalist argument even to get the ideas = into=20 language? And if we can't argue from a functionalist perspective = what else=20 is there?
 
Any thoughts?
 
Thanks,
 
Chris = Francovich
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