The Logic of Writing and the Organization of Society

By: Jack Goody

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Paperback | 16 February 1987

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232 Pages

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21.7 x 14.3 x 1.4

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This book assesses the impact of writing on human societies, both in the Ancient Near East and in twentieth-century Africa, and highlights some general features of social systems that have been influenced by this major change in the mode of communication. Such features are central to any attempt at the theoretical definition of human society and such constituent phenomena as religious and legal systems, and in this study Professor Goody explores the role of a specific mechanism, the introduction of writing and the development of a written tradition, in the explanation of some important social differences and similarities. Goody argues that a shift of emphasis from productive to certain communicative processes is essential to account adequately for major changes in human societies. Whilst there have been previous descussions of the effect of literacy upon social organisation, no study has hitherto presented the general synthesis developed here.

Industry Reviews

'This is a stimulating, thought-provoking book, full of insights which make one think about a whole range of material in a different way. Risky? Yes. Flawed? Probably. Necessary? Undoubtedly.' The Times Higher Education Supplement 'The four major chapters are densely packed with details and comparisons. They attest to Goody's rich learning, and they have much to tell readers.' American Anthropologist

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Studies in Literacy, Family, Culture and the State: an introduction	p. vii
Preface	p. xi
The word of God	p. 1
The concept of 'a'/'the' religion	p. 4
Boundaries	p. 4
Change	p. 6
Obsolescence	p. 8
Incorporation or conversion	p. 10
Universalism and particularism	p. 10
Cognitive contradictions in the general and the specific	p. 13
Specialization: priests and intellectuals	p. 16
Endowment and alienation	p. 18
The twin bureaucracies	p. 19
Organizational and structural autonomony	p. 20
The Great and Little Traditions: spirit cults and world religions	p. 22
Writing and religion in Ancient Egypt	p. 26
Writing and religion in other early civilizations	p. 35
Ritual and writing	p. 42
The word of mammon	p. 45
The origin of writing and the ancient economy	p. 48
Writing and the temple economy	p. 55
Writing and the palace economy	p. 62
Writing and the mercantile economy	p. 71
Writing and individual transactions	p. 77
Writing and the economy in Africa	p. 82
The state, the bureau and the file	p. 87
Bureaucracies	p. 89
The administration of early states with writing	p. 92
Internal administration	p. 93
External administration	p. 97
The administration of states without writing	p. 99
External administration	p. 100
Internal administration	p. 103
Writing in the colonial and national administrations	p. 113
Writing and the political process	p. 119
The letter of the law	p. 127
The definition of law	p. 129
Courts, constables and codes	p. 132
Sources of law and changes of rule	p. 135
Legal reasoning	p. 140
Court organization	p. 142
Legal forms	p. 144
The expansion of writing and law in medieval England	p. 159
The letter and the spirit of the law	p. 165
Ruptures and continuities	p. 171
Notes	p. 186
Bibliography	p. 194
Index	p. 206
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

The Logic of Writing and the Organization of Society

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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