The End of the World: Cultural Apocalypse and Transcendence

Ernesto de Martino's classic work, "The End of the World," is the first English translation of a twentieth-century anthropology and philosophy. It explores how we relate to our world and how we can be better subjects and thinkers within it, offering English-language readers a prescient perspective on globalization and environmental devastation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Ernesto de Martino, a philosopher, historian of religions, and anthropologist, left an indelible mark on the field of anthropology with his extensive body of work. His writings laid the foundation for numerous concepts and issues that would later shape the discipline. In his writings, we can trace the origins of ethnopsychiatry and medical anthropology, explore the role of the ethnographer, delve into discussions of reflexivity and social inequality from a Gramscian perspective, and glimpse an anticipation of the disciplines "existential turn." Despite the melancholic title of his posthumously published book, La fine del mondo, or The End of the World, de Martino's work exudes a sense of hope and possibility. He examines apocalypse as both an individual and cultural phenomenon, covering a wide range of subjects, from classic to contemporary, from European to non-Western cultures, spanning ethnography, history, literature, psychiatry, and philosophy. Through his profound exploration, de Martino questions how we relate to our world and offers insights on how we can become better subjects and thinkers within it. This new translation provides English-language readers with an opportunity to engage with de Martino's masterwork, which remains remarkably relevant in the face of the challenges posed by globalization and environmental devastation.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226820576