Beyond Description: Anthropologies of Explanation

Beyond Description brings together anthropologists and social scientists to examine the problem of explanation, exploring what it can add, who it serves, and how it is produced. In a world of competing voices and post-hoc accounts, the book offers critical examinations of changing norms and forms of explanation in contemporary political, medical, artistic, religious, and bureaucratic settings.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Beyond Description is a groundbreaking collection of essays that brings together anthropologists and other social scientists to explore the complex issue of explanation. What exactly is an explanation? What value does it bring? How can it be authoritative, clarifying, or misleading? Who does it serve, and how is it produced? These fundamental questions lie at the heart of recent public crises of confidence in expertise, political representation, and classic liberal visions of whom we can rely on for true and trustworthy accounts. In a world where events and processes often defy expert predictions of their impossibility, and post-hoc accounts often feel more like rationalizations than explanations, competing voices vie for public presence and seek to silence one another.

Anthropology and the social sciences are not immune to these challenges, making contemporary explanatory practice both an empirical and a reflexive endeavor.

To address these questions, the essays in Beyond Description offer critical examinations of changing norms and forms of explanation in the world and within anthropology itself. Through ethnographic studies of practices of explanation in a diverse range of contemporary political, medical, artistic, religious, and bureaucratic settings, the authors provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the complexities and challenges of explanatory practice.

One of the key themes that emerges from the essays is the increasing importance of reflexivity in explanatory practice. The authors argue that explanations cannot be divorced from the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they are produced and consumed. They emphasize the need for anthropologists and other social scientists to be aware of their own biases, assumptions, and power dynamics, and to work actively to challenge and subvert them.

Another theme that is explored in the essays is the changing nature of explanation in the contemporary world. The authors note that explanations are no longer limited to traditional scientific or religious narratives but are increasingly shaped by a range of social, cultural, and political factors. They argue that explanations should be more inclusive, diverse, and interdisciplinary, and should incorporate a range of perspectives and voices.

The essays in Beyond Description also offer valuable insights into the role of explanation in shaping public policy and decision-making. The authors argue that explanations can be used to justify or challenge existing policies, and that they can have significant impacts on the lives of individuals and communities. They emphasize the need for policymakers and decision-makers to be aware of the potential biases and limitations of explanatory practices, and to work towards more transparent and accountable decision-making processes.

In conclusion, Beyond Description is a groundbreaking collection of essays that offers a comprehensive and critical examination of the issue of explanation. By combining ethnographic studies of practices of explanation in a range of contemporary settings, the authors provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the complexities and challenges of explanatory practice. The essays highlight the importance of reflexivity, diversity, and interdisciplinary approaches to explanation, and offer valuable insights into the role of explanation in shaping public policy and decision-making. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the field of anthropology and the social sciences, and will undoubtedly inspire further research and discussion.

Weight: 418g
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501771576