In the 19th century, anthropology’s great achievement was humility. Cultural relativism and structure-functionalism arose as correctives to imperial arrogance; a way to see “the native” not as savage, but as human within a coherent order. Yet in the 21st century, those same theories can feel dangerous. When all practices are deemed culturally valid, cruelty masqueradesContinue reading “Witches, Populism, Aikido”
Tag Archives: WW2
DAGGERS
What immortal hand or eye / Could frame thy fearful symmetry? William Blake was writing about a tiger (tyger) but we are speaking of daggers. The dagger is made with a fearful purpose and a beautiful symmetry. The dagger is defined by its symmetry around the long axis and by its emphasis on the point overContinue reading “DAGGERS”
PAIN AS A TEACHER
I learned of Abraham Wald from Jordan Ellenberg’s How Not To be Wrong.[1] It is a story well worth reading because it provides a poignant reminder of the power of thinking critically. During WW2, Wald was part of the Statistical Research Group working through real-time problems to make strategic decisions. Among the questions posed to the groupContinue reading “PAIN AS A TEACHER”
Protective Arts 