On the interpretation in the humanities (the case of structuralism of Edmund Leach)

Authors

  • Alicja Soćko-Mucha

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/r.1620

Keywords:

structuralism, structure, structural transformation, the rites of passage, myth, rite, text, the Bible, the Gospels, parable, explanation, interpretation

Abstract

The article presents the problem of structuralism in cultural anthropology as an example of interpretation in the humanities. The main goal is a critical description of Edmund Leach’s proposal put forward in his Against Genres: Are Parables Lights Set in Candlesticks or Put Under a Bushel? The proposed method, as well as its application to biblical texts, is analysed from the perspective of philosophy of science. The analysis leads to the description of areas in which the author breaches the rules of the method proposed by himself.

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Published

2015-12-01

Issue

Section

Articles