ANTH245 2007-09-17

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ANTH 245: Lecture for SEPT 17 2007

Recap

Rappaport's second cybernetic loop

• Sacred propositions -> pragramatic proposition -> the System --> Ritual experience --> Sacred propositions
• Actually similar to this:
  • EXPERIENCE --> RELIGION --> POLITICS --> ECONOMICS --> EXPERIENCE

Themes

Myth as signal and message

• Message as ontology
• Code as method of interpretation
• Myth itself is a vehicle for ontology

The function of myth

• Compare to Rappaport
  • L-S focuses on content, Rappaport sacred context
  • L-S helps explain myths credibility -- it overcomes contradictions
• Compare to Bateson
  • Patterns

L-S's image of the computer

• Confuses cybernetics with computation
• Actually very interested in databases