An argument for sparsity
I consider the influence of the language used in anthropological analysis (the metalanguage). If in principle there are at least as many anthropologies as there are languages, then we must allow the possibility of seven thousand or so more or less incommensurable anthropologies. However, incommensur...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023
|
| _version_ | 1826310577784356864 |
|---|---|
| author | Zeitlyn, D |
| author_facet | Zeitlyn, D |
| author_sort | Zeitlyn, D |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | I consider the influence of the language used in anthropological analysis (the metalanguage). If in principle there are at least as many anthropologies as there are languages, then we must allow the possibility of seven thousand or so more or less incommensurable anthropologies. However, incommensurability need not follow: not only can sparse theory aid comparison but it can also help establish partial (incomplete) commensurability. The parsimony of sparse theory allows for clarity even when dealing with vague ideas. If to achieve this some fashionable terms of analysis have to avoided, this is a price worth paying. In sum: we should all say less more clearly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:54:01Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:161b2fd1-12ba-48fe-bbae-167d612eb8b5 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:54:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:161b2fd1-12ba-48fe-bbae-167d612eb8b52023-08-10T10:00:35ZAn argument for sparsityJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:161b2fd1-12ba-48fe-bbae-167d612eb8b5EnglishSymplectic ElementsWiley2023Zeitlyn, DI consider the influence of the language used in anthropological analysis (the metalanguage). If in principle there are at least as many anthropologies as there are languages, then we must allow the possibility of seven thousand or so more or less incommensurable anthropologies. However, incommensurability need not follow: not only can sparse theory aid comparison but it can also help establish partial (incomplete) commensurability. The parsimony of sparse theory allows for clarity even when dealing with vague ideas. If to achieve this some fashionable terms of analysis have to avoided, this is a price worth paying. In sum: we should all say less more clearly. |
| spellingShingle | Zeitlyn, D An argument for sparsity |
| title | An argument for sparsity |
| title_full | An argument for sparsity |
| title_fullStr | An argument for sparsity |
| title_full_unstemmed | An argument for sparsity |
| title_short | An argument for sparsity |
| title_sort | argument for sparsity |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zeitlynd anargumentforsparsity AT zeitlynd argumentforsparsity |