On the Order of Chaos: Social Anthropology and the Science of Chaos

146 Pages·2005·61.72 MB·English

by  Mark S. Mosko

ON THE ORDER OF CHAOS
Social Anthropology and the Science of Chaos
EdibtyMe adr SkM. o saknod FrHe.Dd aemroinc k
BerghBaohonk s
New York • Oxford
First published in 2005 by CONTENTS
BerghaBhono ks
www.BerghahnBooks.com
© 2005 Mark S. Mosko and Frederick H. Damon
All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages List of Figures and Tables
for the purposes of criticism and review, no part of this book List of Contributors vii
may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or
infomrmecahtaionnic satlo, riangcleu adnidng r epthrioetvoaclo spyysitnegm, rneocwor dkinnogw, onr oarn tyo be PPrroefloacgeu aen dM Aacrkilnyonw Slteradtgheemrnents xiXxi i
invented, without written permission of the publisher. Chap1t:e r
Introduction: A (Re)Turn to Chaos: Chaos
Theory, the Sciences, and Social
Berghahn Books and the editors would like to thank Penguin USA Anthropological Theory
and James Gleick for the use of Figures 1.1-1.6 in the Introduction. Mark S. Mosko 1
Chap2t:e r
LibroafCr oyn grCeastsa loging-Diant-aP ublication From Levi-Strauss to Chaos and
Complexity
Jack Morava
On the order of chaos: social anthropology & the science of chaos/edited by Mark S. Chap3t:e r 47
Mosko and Frederick H. Damon.
p. cm. F�actal Figurations: Homologies and
Includes bibliographical references. Hierarchies in Kabre Culture
Charles Piot
ISBN 1-84545-023-X (alk. paper)--ISBN 1-84545-024-8 (pbk.)
Chapter 4: 64
1. Ethnology--Philosophy. 2. Ethnology--Methodology. 3. Chaotic behavior in systems
I.Mosko, Mark S., 1948- II. Damon, Frederick H. "Pity" and "Ecstasy": The Problem of
Order and Differentiated Difference
GN345.05 2005 Across Kula Societies
306'.01--dc22 2005043636 Frederick H. Damon
ChatpeSr: 79
FraJcotsael Aityn taonndio tKheel lEyx change of Perspectives
BritLiisbhrC aartya loignPu uibnlgi Dcaattai on Chatpe6r: 108
FluCidhrsi .satnodph Ferra ctaTlasy ilnor R wanda: Order and Chaos
A catalogue record for this book is available C.
136
from the British Library.
Printed in the United States on acid-free paper.
vi I Contents
Chap7t:eP rea ce, War, Sex, and Sorcery: Nonlinear
Analogical Transformation in the Early
Escalation of North Mekeo Sorcery and
ChMiefalyrk PSr.a Mctiocsek o 166 FIGURES AND TABLES
Chap8t: eArft erword: Order Is What Happens When
Chaos Loses Its Temper 206
Roy Wagner
249
Bibliography 268
Contributors 271
Index Figures
1.1 Smale's Horseshoe 10
1.2 Bifurcation diagram i 13
1.3 Bifurcation diagram ii 14
1.4 Bifurcation diagram iii 14
1.5 The first strange attractor 18
1.6 The Lorenz attractor 19
4.1 The Kula Ring 81
Takulumwala
4.2 lines in C. Trobriands 97
5.1 Relational constitution of the Tupinamba person 115
5.2 Person as operator between enemy groups 116
5.3 Person as operator between affines within the enemy group 116
5.4 Reconstitution of the killer by the enemy 118
5.5 Unpacking the Fractal Arawete person 120
5.6 Living-Dead relations 122
5.7 Wari'-Enemy relations 122
5.8 Wari' dividuality during seclusion of the killer 123
5.9 Living-dead and enemy relations 124
5.10 Tupinamba relations between enemies 124
5.11 Parallels between Wari' killing and dying 126
5.12 Parallels between Tupinamba killing and enemy exchanges 127
5.13 Parallels between Arawete killing and dying 129
5.14 Wari' killer's positions in ritual killing 130
5.15 Tupinamba killer's positions in ritual killing 130
5.16 Arawete positions in the process of death 131
6.1 "Habyarimana will die in March, 1994" 139
Umurangi,
6.2 Front cover of No. 13, 27 November 1992 156
6.3 Ndadaye's crucifixion and impalement 157
viii Fig11res and Tables
159
6666....4567 """"EKCEdaaaetsr antsrs"hao itct"i"ao c rnctaoa"rrt ocotnoao rofntrno of orfmronom fUmr moU Umummr uaUunrmraganiun,g rgNia,i n,No gN. io9,o .,N . 1 21o224,. J,9 1u1 1Nn0, e7oD v1Oe9ecc9met2mobbbeerer r1 19199992922 111156679018 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
7.1 Senior/junior ranking of chiefs and sorcerers
Table
187
7.1 Disease epidemics in the Mekeo Region, 1850-1950 ----4�,..__ _
Frederick H. Damon
Department of Anthropology
University of Virginia
Jose Antonio Kelly
"Amazonian Center for Research and Control of
Tropical Diseases", Amazonas, Venezuela
Jack Morava
Department of Mathematics
Johns Hopkins University
Mark S. Mosko
Department of Anthropology
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University
Charles Piot
Department of Cultural Anthropology
Duke University
Marilyn Strathern
Department of Social Anthropology
Cambridge University
Christopher C. Taylor
Anthropology Department
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Roy Wagner
Department of Anthropology
University of Virginia
Preface I xi
in e n s c a eo a e or on een o an r e o
gr die t of h os th ry h v f l g b st ck d t ad s cial
hr c or n ca l e a o s a e s
ant opologi al the y. Iro i ly, it may b th t anthr pologist h v di ­
e ee e con o eres c a e r beca se an
play d s mingly littl sci us int t in h os th o y u m y of
ene s e c em e a oo a ar erna e
its t t hav stru k th intuitiv ly as ll t f mili ! Alt tiv ly, it
a be a e same l rec r ors haos e r e
m y th t thos anthropologica p u s to c th o y w re
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS first broouegrhnt to conscious lighta throeugh thhe cdiscipulineo's lengaageem ernts wieth
postm d ism and the hum niti s-w i h th s c u d h v p eclud d
her ec n a s cen
t i r ognitio s pos ibly "s i tific."
e as a se s c s a on o c on o c a s h
B that it m y, riou on ider ti f the impli ati s f h o t e­
__ __...�o---- ory for social anthropological analysis is long overdue. Accordingly, the
ha er o o me e or e r e o a e o chao eo
c pt s f this v lu xpl e a wid ang f sp cts f s th ry­
ens a on ns e r c e c a se s
s itivity to initi l c ditio , nonlin a ity, ompl xity, fra t l lf- imi­
r se r a n a a a o o a
la ity, lf-o ganiz tio , univers lity-from v riety f anthrop logic l
a r er t e e o e are ar c as
nd empi ical p spec iv s. As dit rs, w p ti ularly ple ed to
Tcsdppdtoiopho1euechoioidanspc�iser9nrscatvalrstupis syTn,ssoripctar9be oasto v coci�ht ferinubmgdh 0 sreldtaitfimupeBoeol h ee iehcaisymosecuinweih nlfclorue s,eunm cbarteas ui rmd iel xcfntdrehhnitpa,eculeiraerecrh een asiri.aeewndso tdoaeestscschno l ihersh rshrtneetsnwt atirmt li cu iyt ac unnit ehi ,vvyodloss dotene a oat e ds amg etoaseueitsictire ngbnw cnvobcs ssyis.e ,n o ngbt r mho d ta ssc sebeucdAmtoshthcitirh u aihtntkru t seht.eeecoo peuieeh,s itme,s.osee int h meav qfe no trlasnaumu d int �� itte wuno etofcnnnysehnmii.eta ris n ·e1 oqfrsa eect xsate n�h a etion etthr-�citsuntt�ei ranc uwhhe e pnh1 u he oeahocn rsaymet dontneaitoimr .b?arorarh ra ton.rent dit ca: c vipmle�c,sDobe or tons�n e eyarluihct:ee Saoose u f�fo �s nas uobndieh s n ocrlrc o�ettsttc�t so r�tto iiial, i._�_l_ bi snh :eh ersosiaohso�g�eopv neecc��steoeanr cnnfnti�ft ?ifo\ooigio_emcocic�t� e:slhpsoi r hla e1,pe_ "ss a�eln�co. _rr�aeltin.t lt c r�ciose rhno :tc; guh�n, t 1 paa,hhsc 1 = �eg oo y yi�ore: ru;r.cere�ae: 1_Y :la r�g ;ignrayi ��o�ereshlisteui� .s ey d1t1 s l r��sn t tpl��1 a efa ?,s ms'y ity f ivc�tssh vsc ehto�ne� .�h eeh c o �selc BTasah=deitcasfient 1 tnhe�lttn euo o� y� u iir mt=.momtvrmhatavn ccs ce�r mea osd:rttnrnaer,i'euutrougrh e stgeypei:p teods pemes tdtfndrsi reon " oxd iuoo�em aaiitec taae-r tt'laotn b d stnrts lo orbs ms\fcai fpnt h1p pqe ni solfo hieugioeotannueitoosoo ro'cuhp c n tov oynsneytliuhcmlrnrfiuaialtde f owed etwecayohdio lt urhla cosscsagraulg idt�ftafee amshac. u hrah nenrya rate l nnv oOI artolbahlr,acrsreniaslyntad euepa metupoedh eoee uv tonni rol nnmiod so�shi ras ebyse fasei"gnpf t tsc lrdutritrasystn k,leotsaei sit sa or "uhyNir hlematichntn sccgeblasi pshc e cse iten viittltaoy scooeuoieo'oepa etase hooe io viwonfrnnto e tlnbrlecnldrfr ffpahtneeoi ytawtkftcrny oeyshln ria n hau� ogecei?fies audlcses,f nls oooityd emyAr, o oenu ncc aagt se yttnf s Pmg i"wr"ft nodhs.ifwts mht; eo ta srntei ee wt tc anh rlp vthmcu atmatinh,crteo ooththc etpai·eohshleic ou otrdehna-eemen ako ,ah- a - ekam 1 ,r x- rtgetn eiri i pa­ e­f t ds - ­g slys iioWarctGwnttMaFnlhheiabfsleHmuch mueotasSlytilyid osuDneMho,us aa t,estkegnJmd irra, m ano eahs enkaKon it.vt a nnitaegsreTeoa,nee mg rt razwnhhe, pG t necoesartRhihohh odnrn toaoodeloape ggynf g cedp m o au ottepsaitalhhrirnuueoralleg eeilresdgsrao n s t ,otacpines c ,cobltwaib otdoshatenWentotim lheneeetV d crarodcs nfmra isoys.r t beCl hiheiWamhoedeuaalasrinanilatnm vierti vodeuewtse geery oud,sdfG ts efpf onh hoeofafltrrenolio eafrneo t rLtrl, vtyecdt pv oehsfn:theD i erh vp dic,aRodtC sseieohoMem- uo vc,lbsSdse ylpiuo a teara t srpsislrpahnlWpaunuge ogeedtuivgmachraurro sehr tbagacerLeeesrl yhnns ct.disaut n oatkehlJ Fftki goroopotsemiae h snlro yiut alt iunoyae wHtasntmh,ltld h n dCalooaeeEyiotat m tnohh,ismtMrin nrdrcnrsrfbuyyhgoii oegaks lo eo paryr ttaoaf G ioolvo,d nlnao tyolOirotdrhdounsenhrsu hoge ar g feew rmw rnoiSox cc dvatruhroreaie,roteyet kmlovtas hrl ,seii eu ate.n ep -SpnhvptrmTatr tehl eepfioairwmeeuerovcbrlari'nilhyees­r­­ll.
ProguleoI xiii
ca ca ac o e ate t e u a e ect o descr e
i l p ity t r plic h not-q ite simil r is an ff f iptiv
c ce e ect o ud o e c u ot e e er o a
pra ti , th ir subj s f st y ft n a t it o t in h r r gist s. A s ci l
e e o e a ro rea e o e t o reato s s a e
ncount r bec m s p c tiv m m n . Ins far as l i n hip r the
to f e at w o e o e e co d
condi i n o p rsons in communic ion ith n an th r, w ul say
a ea o cre te ers t u ar tates o e ano er
th t r l ti nships a p ons in no -q ite simil s to n th .
e ed ee e wo o u d o a c ar a s s
All on ne s (to k p th rld g ing ro n n this p rti ul xi ) i to
PROLOGUE ea o e a o
l rn h w to "do" r l ti nships.
or e cr o e e ec e as o a ow do wo
F d s ipti n to hav an ff t, on h t le rn h to " " rds­
__ e e t o e e ea ee s o co f a r
th compl xi y f th ir int rr l tions s m t me o its own cco d.
__,�,-........-- a e t e e a e e s a ed t e at ract es ts
T k h x mpl of Lor nz's o-c ll s rang t or, which mak i
st ear ce u e e r t e d c ts a ra c
fir app an q it a ly in h Intro u tion. I initi l g phi descrip­
e o oo ore ucce co u e ca cua o s e
Marilyn Strathern tiona of sse vant l oops t ku L nez 500e s ssiev de ewmp wt or dl l tiene .o Gol ­
Cambridge, 1N ovember 2003 iacnkd dspdiratlhs wLerree innzf icnoitelldy sdeeemp,o nrevthearn q huite rjoin. iInng , nerves,r "iTntherssecltinpgs.
et e a ed de a e ace e wo d a e d
Y th y st y insi finit sp " (1987: 140). Th r s both r an
re s e t de e t e e o e ot a o
a not uffici nt o scrib h ph n m non, b h f lling sh rt and
re e a er o r ere c de t sect
cursiv ly dding lay s f ef n e ( pth, join, in er ion) that build
u a e e t o t e a e ef c e ed a o e
p an im ge- v n h ugh h im g its l an b grasp all t nc .
Wanodr dDsa emxiosnt 'isn e cxotrmaporled�in raerlya h.eonn dse awviothr, oon f et haen wotohredr.s O thnaet afsoplleocwt ,o df eMseorsvkeos mtoarOitehrsei.g mWinaahtileclnya le)thx fpoer opmuan,t tdseuercdnh sf ovcrer repbahateeln deo xbmpyoe sndiaeti noaspneps mrteahakteehn oedmfef daot niinc ta hnl eoeinrq vuoewartbnioa ntlr s(ae ja.egrc.e­,
atsiaicosannegtoccdsaaiagy tnFn traemiinrTpichm een geesaonsnlOtdetdarhelmwa oheiirseitio a.1cl ve tnfdsun hsfta.rscve piuifa .si eeaccctagr ercdttreI eycs1oee.o rtii.,la it sop .e estr c ddas umwopgaoie acasndh1 ots frre fmale·li.mde c s (a if fs�onsniciabIlt r a,oneovtode udhecmi on,ssep ts ce t eiia,numi�y tceio.a t easi sehss s lt ldgxobc .c ofpcdlth bgtr otfhteons 1nr.hoshoo heei �oauwrite eoo y oa cpeep ac ro kwm a n t eswtsisr tot �m�ss omiso p ei ouseltu,eeno k� o scw �hir �ipo tsoarn .cagingtol hwce1�a rd tn itt,shoapay r e o�io�lw h ahv t sttt ia .rdids �wet l �d�aaeeo�esiysor,it .eavtnrr �ni.m nf hosdhmesfe, yse d p��fuoru f i ff aeath: f1:stat'rcab hrfg �n alo�o �i:.�.;c eew iq. c n1�.n;o rcetw�rnt:Jt src ae �:t � oceett 1 t.ot;ni' ye l �ep! ts !� f �aa.:: hx t1 s f�l spe.�t � o m s .oaPrne a�e:Uab: o f /ci w_n�i er :etko:nmt sndhaarote11 i·tv ab , aivne: nnua dl iztI m.ciok l 1n.d at ldagea otws �ieihlm yggsd terytapn itsir y. e hno oo.s.d hafeo n T�m Bstdor!nenfaAtea peos h trurek rpa tce ereoau amaeoseftty nsecrt l ote tcefnn i coi lhowa esfenrfirodibadto gpfep inel aae fhepp�ee rpimaa l lcfcat te reedatlratfco cuarbi oreo .ba"teriavoet flemowctlti dihRd mgneeuyapntilt euc iei hsds send t erosft u so cefgy esottsunotentcaielsiaf hejiahsnag rrs esmn rimdercdoi es-rtganecopcdr .rosife tiga dfeeirwO laat lsebarttine ipe t tmwcathohrnneamnntisiasrrroeenhm,ysos ,hcaier m ne "b mreoattctandateono-oi),ea nrnnctsq ii..a tfp a tf a p deifed TN uIot yspvrowst hla-h u ialhov haelcotatdaetbo1mc'ehmetele-wlht s ehelg sh ees .­ tSibdtehinalrLrcboaAfeatnnriiheoaxnyconaprooonat dneio tl s tewnmdrenIascaetesm anveeahrotlseb srna. c enlasa 4i.db nlemvsete"cgh racntiizThee yst ehtni1nrteuls2ceo mlsuli hreTai vsdtoseha rcpbntedrieo eh ,eernu gaodpa a tosi nu aidespnigdn(enn ol asfnaco vot v o s ci fgrwtfraotntcnsicvoeu ethhuiotaesomliandbnsietrpoaac in lnr tmmgtsa r eulattt tpine tag dbi tuohrioshblofbdaeu tinoaaea inasenfroetesmnelpuinl egraaln as og niil i cmnhwnpcs ezdbiizoe k gneranetoeixte aoh de oai c s esagfidtatdtntoneusnoso rdiroshha m o) d lde(r rtnmw e ise a ins misnsmsi neomp:s cx net eo fhmo (rc ndlaapttratnvfefootererhhoiilte oteoed eeeei,tnrlchis a epshir nrewwtolos ai eantdc ah is m etn neoomnnrcieug)si roermo nitcvoef on i crrmbiah aaneltnlcssoeendhtcea eaetap ehhg rbo,eivss bgitdr tcctmt.roest,.ismm e heoud oahaoa erORrtaicsetrlpmahrp:ntanprs h s toet arflvthe.sh is"a aoo sfh ipwo" laihrlno3sOapsiparfreoaohnttesib crmg shisnolptnosltii n toa e ongofhtngoh osrteuota sonfghhrig eiuaso wfai nlgarsoso stii le anarv s riyvi uwh(neniefa envgedtesna i exc os l ntu eboi sswc nsitnchptthtgtes eo hoemrhhyesd sei eeenafd ia patee steafbs rnr iimshtrssean is inlsineieigcovrai,leasmb, t de ooc . os ecni et otelcodpvin unn,tedesrvcnovw ecbm re. )arbideriton eionrieda toMnajtstio tnfee svlgiahtl oe w tad oritcl t cenpoa hanooiir lat orornitn ndarenh ndtna stytmect,pgn ae o r h,igimimootti orta telds hphenehcogiqn vlsfrao reoa ectl cgtiueedeip eploovmintyuem ri werxiwieee, c ep wto rastl teooipsrrntorcothhntu oneso hteitinuhtrsdeioossoenfhtrehndc date.m xgnndn oosseehaatsrrIite"essrrssrs­)tf­­tt,..
w c e e c e e r te ut e e r
hi h th s mathemati al op rations g t w it n abo , th y nte a
Notes for this section begin on page xiv.
xiv I Prologue
Pro1loeI g x1v
domain of social description. They both take on values already available smtroatniogne si ltotfr 11tchteo ra ittms nomspnhee.Jr e" (1993: 63). [It w11s Ruelle, wi. th T11kens, who gave the
taiivvssfnnhooeneegree crrdhT i mlbstlo ayheahoawl inue liqsi mpig unrt lrshceau i peotnedntaeonhmndgeg sseooseueese ctmri a shforoibi gnioeefrflpe gyrsnfctt tsh hiahipi sv)m.eapuh euco Slmeap aassonppeon,ca oopdtevc nhbmwo o e ae(ersmr"eeney iirorntsld ieea.hrana a tdBmpe gmiaboeudp lasaarntet oks,oo ysa"n regrh t rbwoh e"aieeapawtivvehdnptsale e.p sldw ibn trldooaa-y hswrebb iaaasltisetwe le o lfii arirtoc fsyodoniot ,amnh bg"rtl e e ou t(ara"ihr an ntae wechggd)t utdeera rled c eytamtufuehsslccles aratotrcxaitutfiorh li brsi-vtneabielhinim"leetni gy)ndpsga. kr aottuWaohii fncircnfeseihege eta reasi wsnacesfteb fde u (eecuost nmcbah­ustiyneest­­ 3.rp Ee�rmiorcoctc1nwMbii aorf hti.sle e cowvpa e trssnu i krmoeotont oI11 iis:n l-gnn sIjtgcdeh g g11oeowo1c. r m pifn e stmpi1. ue enime edoi-r dc nsdnd1111fttl s·a,urpiirut· d mmiikhcrnporne eeesneei . .n iwcs. nn11r.m g lrss{ohe i O iib11svftooicheby ernnshcrl r ttea ec t-bori1il emooYin o -nsndnnd okk tt·gs rru) i eajp mee11aurnii-wn11n s ces·acs ti.uo rn· te ns i,timi ces lggnr tiSeviao t i1e1oc.fn11nl· er t irct11o cfpo Pocallm'arlr nnno Petstot uet stthm.p Pd w e_ChlOd iten. eu up11 1 .rtn co sotre11atm goeduttunhisrt., sro s o•gsto eb tnhI tl sI'e fte sl pe,h lsa ild .s recr sete Goi hht.t1e e·prr u1le1ilnnanie gtvnc trodr .fhrc .itieor s aotka oswtt lro s ,h c1s ,i1( fmr fo1 itteh.i9stnl hilrJelei8l es el tetct td7t c w ilet ut:aoii tirmoonsout1. enr4 netdTaads2 n ytiocio· )mtd st pt rffohide n ioeprtce.ec,in no11 T stsrtsss1iocoeelni uyrroom ctcei ,rhnswbo o .onsmefo nov' sir vqouibe rneutr·l i ggdh11rteets · e ,
obeb ttahien eodb stherrvoautgiohn q tuhiatet dorifdfeerre anntd c odmispourdtaetri oanrea lc sreteaptesd. A snim euxlatmanpeloe uwsolyu oldr 4. tr_Inhnse toi11rtn ahcceetrs, r"He (gu19ims9tpe4rh: s1r 3en3yo) n.n lninde L11ra iddel11swcr ipwtnio· tne s t� al bilto �'.ancdt. oArsp brootpho sil rne. taunadliz ilarteio nno, tt oil utt11hkoer so noef
gmttofaoehepfaagfenpA sdemteeihtfebraht e aleraiee l nr1asm � p a ny hagonucenoiieatavnuwtslraeyttas ongs hltorlio hetyssfhner , to cee ihocsof. k io rtnnti inhctsnkocte diioe ntssipur.gnn ott etcsitfeve ho sroernadof .tt a ci "srgttiatMh oiaodtleabotui htiwcgtiletuoiioactrnayyra lp y l oact e pofonof r onsdgpeors rslcicteouniei'twamsssul t. et5apwai sbHotcsiaintoelosii"nvn wtt ytisoptie aoy oacvlr;iria ednsetsrhmti ts,nbre saaeIt , dotri seniii alen,fgy f eo pe s mbrreha rert aoonofmdreuc tcceego,at hlrotsiyoesftt 5. mbttptte rAhh ltolre1 yeee us1·n p1 x 1g(stioic1k cnettI t rlyr h d hwtott 11 e, htnt oor·,ohue gtf, sIo in , etant / iscrhnrktt eolevd11 ioe11nn bo r tdogcedlwiecifes elge peyCprr.onee) to Iistgtcnin vi sideitta me hfotnrlhanln aeoytc etwh c t tcyrs eewanieo tn am lf inyitiwrtsunenhd oilrth go toyn eHmgou n"•11 wr ihtegi en 11 oabha h1 n avi t oetfen eg erripd et degeua1·l , te 11d "/iy pirgtd'n i- •ssnevtd i . uI _s.db1e v r.cb aOso� rosot vl soe,envcr ekgonde err .eus rs .e .sredTer.t rp hvs d lot,r.apre o. o "edf xul n / 11ehicvls.s ch d fehmo, e 'a oyc'ab . a oifa . ben t fsbslru h ,,osu(·enecrum 'cl tm rac'·is .ezesrtpatie n·yt yoia·t d ct i,n bol ci· yo t 'f1'sa hot u rs·tantef atsyn g al koa d)obui snnc fi11tplg ogegiihtnumn eynyvis f leosiig/ttbsief ace l irttyts-noh iuo, os efcsnhtnroea e,lasai.bmg votJti--elot-r-
shed the embarrassing, perhaps it is exhilarating for anthropology to go
over what it already has. So a discipline whose conversations are coming
to seem more and more like everyone else's finds new life in recognition,
in realizing the scope of social extension, and its many scales, already in its
repertoire. This is one of the dazzling effects of reading this book.
Of course chaos theory provides figures of speech. It does so precisely
to the extent that it points to the way figures of speech behave, or for that
matter the way descriptions of social life behave. The only surprising
thing is that it has taken anthropologists so long to hold up the not-quite
similar form of chaos theory to itself. It challenges us- anyone-to know
how it is that we can move arow1d the objects in our world, including
anthropologists' objects of study (cultures, societies), and at the same time
keep them familiar to the senses.
Notes
1. E.g., Kauffman (1993: 178), Coveney and Highfield (1995: 174).
2. He "replaced the correct time evolution in infinite dimension by a time evolution in
three dimensions, which he could study on a computer" (Ruelle 1993: 62). Ruelle adds:
"The Lorenz timee volution is not a realistic description of atmospheric convection, but
its study nevertheless gave a very strong argument in favor of unpredictability of the
1
A
INTRODUCTION: (RE)TURN TO CHAOS
Chaos Theory, the Sciences, and Social Anthropological Theory
Mark S. Mosko
The Australian National University
Over the past two decades, the natural sciences have been revolutionized
by the development of "chaos theory," a new approach to kinds of order
previously hidden within the stochastic, seemingly disorderly phenomena
of complex dynamical systems. This volume is an attempt to evaluate criti­
cally the potential contributions that chaos theory can make both to anthro­
pological analyses of social, cultural, and historical phenomena and to
recent methodological and theoretical debates in anthropology and beyond.
Chaos theory, heralded as the "New Science" (Prigogine and Stengers
1984; Briggs and Peat 1989; Gleick 1987; Nicolis and Prigogine 1989; Stew­
art 1989), constitutes a revolutionary paradigm of scientific analysis and
theorizing that has fundamentally transformed many areas of physics,
chemistry, biology, meteorology, physiology, and mathematics. Through
the lens of chaos, a wide range of seemingly random and disparate phe­
nomena- weather patterns, fluid turbulence, traffic jams, population
changes, chemical solutions, the building of termite nests, cardiovascular
and neural rhythms, biological evolution and natural selection-which
previously were regarded as beyond conventional modes of scientific
explanation have been shown to exhibit properties of deterministic order
within apparent disorder.
On the basis of these successes and certain perceived parallels between
the natural and human domains, numerous social scientists and human­
ist scholars have recently begun to explore comprehensively the applica­
bility of chaos theory to phenomena distinctive to human activity and
experience (Hayles 1990; 1991a; Kiel and Elliot 1997; McClure 1998).
-
lntrodL1c/io11: A (Re)Turn to Chaos I 3
2 \ MARKS. MOSKO
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4 I MARK 5. MOSKO
lntrodA1( 1Rcet)itToCoul1 rni1 n:1 o 5s
a o a o o o a o o
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136; Bricm nt 1996; A. Jones 1998; Koertge 1998; cf. Best 1995; Hayles
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subvert a more bal nced ppraisal of the c nvergences between ch s
a o po p a
theory nd c ntem rary analytical ractices in the hum nities and
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