Philippe Descola
French anthropologist who compared ontologies in Amazonian societies beyond nature-culture dualism.
Most quoted
"Perspectivism is the idea that different beings perceive the world from their own unique point of view, but that these perspectives are mutually intelligible."
— from Par-delà nature et culture, 2005
"The human condition is not defined by a universal essence, but by the diversity of ways in which humans relate to their environment and to other beings."
— from L'écologie des autres, 2013
"The Amazonian forest is not just a collection of trees and animals; it is a complex web of relations between different kinds of beings."
— from La Nature domestique, 1986
All quotes by Philippe Descola (103)
Our understanding of the world is always mediated by our ontological assumptions.
The future of anthropology lies in exploring the diversity of human-nonhuman relations.
The idea of 'nature' as a separate realm, distinct from human activity, is a relatively recent invention.
To truly engage with other cultures, we must suspend our own ontological prejudices.
The world is not given to us; it is made and remade through our relations with it.
The challenge is not to find a universal definition of humanity, but to understand the diverse ways of being human.
Anthropology is a journey into the unknown, a constant questioning of our own assumptions.
The naturalistic worldview has impoverished our understanding of the world by reducing it to a collection of inert objects.
We need to cultivate an 'ecological imagination' that can grasp the interconnectedness of all beings.
The idea of a 'human exceptionalism' is a dangerous illusion.
The study of other cultures is not just about understanding 'them,' but about understanding 'us' in a new light.
The world is full of different ways of being, and we should celebrate this diversity.
The categories we use to describe the world are not neutral; they shape our perceptions and actions.
The animist does not 'believe' in spirits; they experience a world populated by intentional beings.
The ecological crisis is a symptom of a deeper ontological crisis.
To understand the Amazonian indigenous peoples, one must understand their relations with non-humans.
The modern world has largely forgotten how to relate to non-humans as subjects.
The task of anthropology is to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar.
The idea of a universal human nature is a product of a specific historical and cultural context.
We are not just observers of the world; we are participants in its ongoing creation.
Contemporaries of Philippe Descola
Other Anthropologys born within 50 years of Philippe Descola (1949).