The Cambridge Handbook for the Anthropology of Ethics

An authoritative and cutting-edge survey of one of the most vibrant fields in anthropology in the last two decades.

James Laidlaw (Edited by)

9781108482806, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 May 2023

725 pages
25 x 17.6 x 5.6 cm, 1.72 kg

The 'ethical turn' in anthropology has been one of the most vibrant fields in the discipline in the past quarter-century. It has fostered new dialogue between anthropology and philosophy, psychology, and theology and seen a wealth of theoretical innovation and influential ethnographic studies. This book brings together a global team of established and emerging leaders in the field and makes the results of this fast-growing body of diverse research available in one volume. Topics covered include: the philosophical and other intellectual sources of the ethical turn; inter-disciplinary dialogues; emerging conceptualizations of core aspects of ethical agency such as freedom, responsibility, and affect; and the diverse ways in which ethical thought and practice are institutionalized in social life, both intimate and institutional. Authoritative and cutting-edge, it is essential reading for researchers and students in anthropology, philosophy, psychology and theology, and will set the agenda for future research in the field.

1. Introduction James Laidlaw
Part I. Intellectual Sources and Disciplinary Engagements: 2. Moral and political philosophy Hallvard Lillehammer
3. Virtue ethics Jonathan Mair
4. Agonistic pluralists James Laidlaw and Patrick McKearney
5. The two faces of Michel Foucault Paolo Heywood
6. Phenomenology Samuel Williams
7. Cognitive science Harry Walker and Natalia Buitron
8. Theology Michael Banner
Part II. Aspects of Ethical Agency: 9. Making the ethical in social interaction Webb Keane and Michael Lempert
10. Freedom Soumhya Venkatesan
11. Responsibility Catherine Trundle
12. Emotion and affect Teresa Kuan
13. Happiness and wellbeing Edward F. Fischer and Sam Victor
14. Suffering and sympathy Abby Mack and C. Jason Throop
15. Ambiguity and difference Adam B. Seligman and Robert P. Weller
Part III. Media and Modes of Ethical Practice: 16. Self-cultivation Joanna Cook
17. Exemplars Nicholas H. A. Evans
18. Ritual Letha Victor and Michael Lambek
19. Values Julian Sommerschuh and Joel Robbins
20. Rules Morgan Clarke
21. On ethical pedagogies James D. Faubion
Part IV. Intimate and Everyday Life: 22. Care Cheryl Mattingly and Patrick McKearney
23. Kinship and love Perveez Mody
24. Cooperation and punishment Anni Kajanus and Charles Stafford
25. Favours David Henig and Nicolette Makovicky
26. The inimical gaze Carlos D. Londoño Sulkin
27. Animals Rosie Jones-McVey
28. God T. M. Luhrmann
Part V. Institutional Life: 29. Modern capitalism and ethical plurality Robert W. Hefner
30. The ethics of trade and commerce Paul Anderson and Magnus Marsden
31. Activism and political organization Sian Lazar
32. Philanthropy China Scherz
33. Science Matei Candea
34. Communist morality under socialism Yunxiang Yan.

Subject Areas: Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Theology [HRLB], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ]