Michael Harner: Difference between revisions
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< | '''Michael Harner''' (1929-) is an American [[anthropology|anthropologist]], best known for his interest in [[shamanism]], for which he established the [[Foundation for Shamanic Research]]. His initial field research, which included participation in shamanic ritual and the associated psychotropic substances, was with the [[Jivaro people]] of the [[Amazon River]] basin. | ||
==Shamanism== | |||
Harner, who says he is a qualified shaman, who was controversial as a "participant observer" rather than an uninvolved anthropologist, described certain shamanistic widely diverse cultures that are unlikely to have had contact. These include the belief in a ''ordinary state of consciousness (OSC)'' that corresponds to physical reality, and a ''shamanic state of consciousness (SSC)'' that is an alternate reality. The different cultures share a common idea of a ''shamanic journey'' between the OSC and SSC. <ref>{{citation | |||
| title = The Way of the Shaman | |||
| author=Michael Harner}}</ref> | |||
==Violence== | |||
He also wrote of the cause of violence in human is the theory that humans are violent due to the nature of their psyche, explaining that the human memory stores feeling of resentment and pain caused by insults, losses and injuries. He attributes this ability to the high levels of violence in the Amazon, claiming that the indigenous tribes of the basin fight for revenge. As documented by several ethnographic case studies, this is true. Harner asserts that this is a valid theory to explain the high levels of violence in the Basin, however he fails to distinguish between the internal and external violence of the Jivaro people, applying his theory to violence in general. His theory well explains that internal feuds are driven by revenge, but external violence, such as raids and war, are understood to be driven by other and even stronger motivations.<ref name=Harner, 1972.>Harner, Michael J.The Jivaro: People of the Sacred Waterfalls. London: 1972</ref> While this does serve as an explanation for some of the high levels of violence in the Amazon Basin, it is generally agreed upon that his theory lacks explanation as to why there are in fact there are higher levels of violence among some cultures rather than others. | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
Revision as of 12:14, 16 August 2010
Michael Harner (1929-) is an American anthropologist, best known for his interest in shamanism, for which he established the Foundation for Shamanic Research. His initial field research, which included participation in shamanic ritual and the associated psychotropic substances, was with the Jivaro people of the Amazon River basin.
Shamanism
Harner, who says he is a qualified shaman, who was controversial as a "participant observer" rather than an uninvolved anthropologist, described certain shamanistic widely diverse cultures that are unlikely to have had contact. These include the belief in a ordinary state of consciousness (OSC) that corresponds to physical reality, and a shamanic state of consciousness (SSC) that is an alternate reality. The different cultures share a common idea of a shamanic journey between the OSC and SSC. [1]
Violence
He also wrote of the cause of violence in human is the theory that humans are violent due to the nature of their psyche, explaining that the human memory stores feeling of resentment and pain caused by insults, losses and injuries. He attributes this ability to the high levels of violence in the Amazon, claiming that the indigenous tribes of the basin fight for revenge. As documented by several ethnographic case studies, this is true. Harner asserts that this is a valid theory to explain the high levels of violence in the Basin, however he fails to distinguish between the internal and external violence of the Jivaro people, applying his theory to violence in general. His theory well explains that internal feuds are driven by revenge, but external violence, such as raids and war, are understood to be driven by other and even stronger motivations.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many While this does serve as an explanation for some of the high levels of violence in the Amazon Basin, it is generally agreed upon that his theory lacks explanation as to why there are in fact there are higher levels of violence among some cultures rather than others.
References
- ↑ Michael Harner, The Way of the Shaman