Questioning Misfortune
The Pragmatics of Uncertainty in Eastern Uganda
Published on 8. January 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
274 pages
978-0-521-59558-2 (ISBN)
Description
Some of the most interesting ethnographies of experience are concerned to highlight the indeterminate nature of life. Questioning Misfortune is very much within this tradition. Based on a long-term study of adversity and its social causes in Bunyole, eastern Uganda, it considers the way in which people deal with uncertainties of life, such as sickness, suffering, marital problems, failure, and death. Divination may identify causes of misfortune, ranging from ancestors and spirits to sorcerers. Sufferers and their families will then try out a variety of remedial measures, including pharmaceuticals, sorcery antidotes, and sacrifices. But remedies often fail, and doubt and uncertainty persist. Even the commercialisation of biomedicine, and the peril of AIDS can be understood in terms of a pragmatics of uncertainty.
Reviews / Votes
'The author's work, which expands over a period of twenty-five years, presents a unique style of anthropology of social experience ... The student of anthropology and other readers not familiar with the African culture would find this an excellent piece of work. The illustrations are selected well, and in themselves a great reflection of practical social experience. The text is up-to-date and references abound ... All in all, those with an interest in the subject of medical anthropology - especially in the African setting, whether observers, planners or teachers can expect to find much value in this book.' Social Science and Medicine 'This is a coherent, elegantly written book, full of nuanced insight, highly crafted, very usable as a text in medical anthropology but also accessible to a wide readership.' Anthropology TodayMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
1 Plates, color; 12 Halftones, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
402 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-59558-2 (9780521595582)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
01/1998
Cambridge University Press
€103.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Content
Introduction; Part I. An Uncertain World: 1. Misfortune and uncertainty; 2. The pursuit of health and prosperity; 3. Going to ask; Part II. 'What You Cannot See': The Revelations of Spirits: 4. At home with the dead; 5. The fertility of clanship; 6. Little spirits and child survival; Part III. 'You Will Know Me': The Opacity of Humans: 7. Speaking of morality; 8. Substances and secrecy; Part IV. The Pragmatics of Uncertainty: 9. More questions; 10. Consequences. Notes; References; Index.