Mana (Jan 2008)
Empirical foundations of anthropological reasoning: the creation of PPGAS and the selection of scientific species
Abstract
This article examines the profound change in the meaning of the word 'anthropology' in Brazil following the creation of a Ph.D. program at the National Museum. It also studies the introduction of structural anthropology at the end of the sixties in light of the controversy surrounding kinship theory that opposed David Maybury-Lewis and Claude Lévi-Strauss. It relates conceptual and methodological innovations to the institutionalization of postgraduate programs, thereby opening the way for professionalization at a larger scale. In order to highlight the effectiveness of the alliance between the program's 'founding fathers,' the author reviews their social and intellectual paths based on distinct social capitals, careers and prestige. Examining the PPGAS archives allows to shed light on the expectations as well as the strategies of the 'founding fathers' around the time when they approached the Ford Foundation for funding both for higher education teaching and for regular fieldwork. Studying the social and intellectual characteristics of the different participants in international scientific controversies allows us to comprehend how international power relationships influence the evolution of systems of thought.
