Clifford Geertz人類學理論評述-符號-語用的觀點

Abstract

本論文從符號語用論（semiotic pragmatism）的觀點來評論Geertz的詮釋人類學理論。Clifford Geertz是當代重要的人類學家，特別是他提出的詮釋人類學在七零年代後成為新的研究典範，開啓了新的議題和研究方向。但他的理論也不是沒有受到批評。我在這本論文想要回應的是兩個問題：Geertz的辯護者是否適當的回應了對Geertz的批評？如果他們的回應是不成功的，我們又有什麼替代的方案？在這篇論文中，我整理了Geertz的理論，他受到的批評以及Geertz的支持者幫他做的回應，接著我將指出為Geertz的辯護是不足的，因為他們都沒有挑戰Geertz理論中的再現論立場，最後，我建議符號語用論是一個較佳的理論出路。

This thesis tries to offer an semiotic-pragmatic critique of Clifford Geertz’s anthropological theory. Geertz is probably the most famous and important anthropologist after the 70’s. This is because he created a new paradigm in anthropology: interpretive anthropology. His endeavor also evoked many debates. In this thesis , I want to answer two questions: are Geertz’s defenders able to successfully defend his position? If not, what are the alternatives for us? In this thesis, I summarize Geertz’s anthropological theory, criticisms of his theory and his defenders’ counter-arguments. I argue that their defense is unsuccessful, because they didn’t challenge or revise the “representationalist” stance in Geertz’t theory. And finally, I suggest that Michael Silverstein’s “semiotic-pragmatism” provides is a better alternative.