Book review: "After Ethnos" iii
The book has just five chapters. Given that Tobias Rees is trying disrupt, break free, escape to move beyond the established views, theory, practice - fieldwork of anthropology and ethnology critique was bound to follow. The book's response is that each chapter is followed by questions, discussion and responses the author has encountered while formulating the many ideas and arguments in the book. This is very useful structuring device and a lesson in itself (if you can engage with the academic community...).
Not dodging the inevitable questions, chapter one addresses philosophy and history, Durkheim, Mauss and the arrival of humanity, society and history are argued for in a departure for ethnos. I noted an emphasis on contingency, and 'condition of possibility'. There may be a dependency upon - with lower case philosophy and upper-case Philosophy. In 'p'hilosophy I can read a philosophy of care, a personal set of values that must be dynamic (1977 - 2020... !?) and underpins everyday practice.
If chapters four and five warrant re-reading, there are many points on philosophy end of chapter 1 that would bring (more) rewards here. In chapter 2 the history of 'humanity' as a singular collective, the concept arose some 250 years ago in Europe. An interesting conjunction then with 'data' and its impact upon what it is to be human and humanity today and tomorrow...
"Could one interpret this recentness of "the human" as an invitation for research?* ... Could one meticulously map the new, unanticipated venues for being human - for living a life - they are opening up?" p.40.
In the 21st Century we still have need of a periplus.
*Yes!
More to follow ...
orcid.org/0000-0002-0192-8965