Coping with uncertainty: divination, oracles, and witchcraft accusations February 5, 2001

Reading for Wednesday, February 7th n Remember: read BOTH articles by Malinowski: “Rational Mastery” and “Magic, Science and Religion” n If you do not have the reading guide, or the “Rational Mastery” article, please get both from me at the end of class today

Social and cognitive uncertainties n uncertainties about others n uncertainties about the cause of misfortune n uncertainties about the future n uncertainties about control

Responses to social and cognitive uncertainty n Divination –In general: reliance on mystical power to discover true intent of others; to explain misfortune; to tell the future n Kinds of divination –everyday signs and omens

To think about... n Please take a moment to remember an occasion when you did one of the following things: –regarded something as a “bad omen” –regarded something as “a sign”

Other kinds of divination n Interpretive rituals n Oracles (binary rituals)

A common explanation of misfortune: the ill will of others –Evil eye n often involuntary, due to envy –Sorcery n deliberate, voluntary infliction of harm by relying on external mystical power; implies nothing about the internal powers of the inflictor –“Witchcraft” (as used by anthropologists) n harm inflicted by a person who possesses internal powers to inflict such harm. Sometimes involuntary.

The poison oracle of the Azande n Who are the Azande? n What is a poison oracle?

Watching the video: an anthropological challenge n Resist temptation to be judgmental n Try to shift perspective on the baby chicks

Some questions to think about while watching the film n How does consultation of oracles assist the Azande to cope with social and cognitive uncertainty? n Does oracle consultation help Azande society function more smoothly? In what ways? n Why, do you think, did the oracle “work” in the case of the adultery? n How do witchcraft accusations help the Azande deal with cognitive and social uncertainty?