Marvin Harris

Words: 454

Pages: 2

Open Document

Marvin Harris, a cultural materialist, reduces the Hindu ban on cow slaughter in, “The Cultural Ecology of India’s Sacred Cows.” Harris, offers a neo-materialist approach to understanding the central importance of cows, while arguing that a ‘religious sanctity’ has been incorrectly used to describe a phenomenon that, can be best explained by that of socio-political factors. Moreover, Harris states that the ban on cow slaughter included in the constitution of India, and the legal controversy that followed efforts to implement the ban. Thus reaching an understanding to the problem, when looking at the cultural ecology of India, one has to focus narrowly within the unquestioned economic utility of cattle within Indian life, that one must also …show more content…
Moreover, Harris asserts that instead of the Hindu theology, customs, taboos and rituals associated with Indian cattle, require a properly functioned explanation that rests upon India’s adapting response to that of ecological degradation. To simplify, the theory can be described as a ‘cultural’ materialism, in that the holy designation of the cow, is thus reduced to a socio-economic response of practical necessity.
Harris, thus proposes that the materialist explanation as a general theory, in cases where the flesh of a certain animal (in this instance, cow) is made to be a taboo, when it becomes too costly, as a direct result of the ecological changes(in India). Furthermore, it must be pointed out that some of the basic components of Harris’s theory incorporates recognition that the animal was formerly sacrificed or eaten. This is due to the rise in population density, as a response to restrictions imposed when the animal can no longer be raised( in ample numbers) to meet the requirements of societal

Kaoka Culture

In the fifth chapter of Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches by Marvin Harris, Harris puts across the viewpoint of the Kaoka’s culture, as well as those of other similar tribes. Additionally, them and their obsession to becoming the big man also known as potlatch. Culture is merely based off of different traditions and legends that have been passed down through centuries of times, some of which might not make sense to others. Unlike the last chapters, The Kaoka do not simply worship animals, they have this…

Words 499 - Pages 2

Controversial Themes in Black Popular Music Essay

charged lyrics. Race Records would later go on to influence Rock and Roll and songs would become a vehicle for artists like Elvis Presley. Singer Wynonie Harris became a success with Race Records like All She Wants to Do Is Rock (1949) and I Like My Baby’s Pudding (1950), both of which contained sexually suggestive lyrics. In the former, Harris proclaims, “My baby don’t like airplanes, she don’t like those streamline trains. She just wants to stay at home and huckle buck her daddy all night long…

Words 1767 - Pages 8

Case: Zelman V. Simmons-Harris

Vanessa Pettengill February 18, 2015 Professor Frederick W. ODell Case Brief – Chapter 2 Religion Case: Zelman v. Simmons-Harris Citation: 536 U.S. 639 Year: 2002 Facts: The case was argued February 20, 2002 and decided June 27, 2002. The Chief justice William Rehnquist delivered the court’s decision, joined by Justice O’Connor, Justice Scalia, Justice Kennedy, and Justice Thomas. Dissents were delivered by Justice Stevens, Souter, and Breyer. J. Hessler, Clint Bolick, William Mellor, Richard…

Words 1038 - Pages 5

NHD Mavis Kelsey Final Draft Google Docs Essay

Medical School in Galveston. After an internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York, he arrived at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Dr. Edward Randall, Dr. Marvin Graves and Dr. Seth Morris (all members of the original faculty); anatomist Dr. Harry O. Knight; pathologist Dr. Paul Brindley; surgeon Dr. Albert O. Singleton; and Dr. Titus Harris, and Dr. Truman Blocker were all doctors that Dr. Mavis Kelsey studied under. They were an important part of UTMB’s rich history and to Kelsey’s life. Dr. Kelsey…

Words 1564 - Pages 7

Disadvantages Of Artificial Intelligence

‘Computing Machinery and Intelligence’ by mathematician, Alan Turing, which opened the doors to the field that would be called AI and to the computer revolution; Turing proposes a test to determine whether or not a machine can really think for itself • Marvin Minsky and Dean Edmonds built the first neutral net machine, the SNARC • 1955 – design of ‘The Logic Theorist’ by Simon and Newell (considered to be the first AI program) • 1956 – the term ‘artificial intelligence’ is coined by computer scientist…

Words 958 - Pages 4

Cannibalism the Idea Essay

However, we now have more knowledge about this topic. After reading Paleoanthropologist's studies I have learned that Neanderthals were devouring others flesh as far back as 100,000 years ago. (Soniak, "Mmmm, Brains") American anthropologist Marvin Harris believes, " Cannibalism was a common practice for humans living in small groups." He also added that once groups grew, population increased, and states began to develop it disappeared. However, cannibalism did become frowned upon in most cultures…

Words 1162 - Pages 5

How George H. W. Bush Shaped America

On January 20th, 1989, George Herbert Walker Bush was elected the 41st President of the United States of America. Prior to that, Bush served two terms as U.S vice president for President Reagan, from 1981 to 1989. At the age of 17, he met his current wife, Barbra. Bush has a background in the U.S Navy, he served 3 years. Also, he attended Yale and is one of their most notable alum. Mr. Bush grew up in Connecticut with his four other siblings and his politically active parents. George H. W. Bush is…

Words 1545 - Pages 7

preguntas Final Essay

1. Ethnic groups with a feeling of homeland, or ownership of a particular geographical area, are termed ____. ethnic minorities subnationalities ethnic enclaves ethnic nationalities 2 points QUESTION 2 1. From an anthropological perspective, each individual person is formed by their biological make-up. through their own psychological experiences. through the interaction of their biological make up and life experiences. by their life experiences. 2 points QUESTION 3 1. The forms…

Words 2034 - Pages 9

Cinderella Man Essay

1970 1 | Layla | Derek And The Dominos | 2 | Bridge Over Troubled Water | Simon and Garfunkel | 3 | Let It Be | Beatles | 4 | Your Song | Elton John | 5 | Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine | James Brown | 6 | Lola | Kinks | 7 | Who'll Stop the Rain | Creedence Clearwater Revival | 8 | Fire and Rain | James Taylor | 9 | Paranoid | Black Sabbath | 10 | All Right Now | Free | 11 | My Sweet Lord | George Harrison | 12 | Black Magic Woman | Santana…

Words 7794 - Pages 32

Military Ethics Essay

Military Ethics Marvin J. Harris United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Department of Military History Class 64 SGM Rivera November 26, 2013 Abstract Since 1775, the birth of the United States Army, many men and women have served in the United States military. These individuals have given their lives in defense of democracy, both at home and abroad. The oath of enlistment these individuals took to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” is a major obligation. Whether it…

Words 2712 - Pages 11