Admission requirements
This course is intended for Archaeology RMA-students and PhD-candidates exclusively.
Description
What is “epistemology”?
Archaeological research is confusingly multiparadigmatic. The epistemology of archaeology (and anthropology) does not look at archaeological (or anthropological) data as such, but at the various, and often conflicting, ways data are handled in terms of the basic presuppostions and conceptual tools of individual archaeologists.
Even elementary archaeological concepts such as “protoculture,” “site,” “intention,” “ritual” and periodisations (“Ancients-Moderns,” “human adaptive grade”) are theory-laden and part of a specific theoretical discourse. They are inextricably connected to the other notions, rules, assumptions, values, and scenarios which occur in that specific discourse.
One sharp theoretical/conceptual divide in archaeology and anthropology, connected with opposed views of disciplinary identity, is that between, on the one hand, culturalist/ interpretive (and cf. post-processual) approaches and, on the other hand, evolutionary (ecological, processual) ones. The anthropological disciplines are a contested arena between the humanities and the life sciences.
This seminar focuses on presuppositions, research and debates regarding violence and conflict. Is (living) nature basically a ‘Hobbesian’ struggle for life, conflict a strong selective force in evolution, and human nature essentially violent? Recent views stress the opposite (cf. Fry ed. 2013), but are controversial. We will depart from a number of passages from Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1652).
Course objectives
Awareness of some major discussions in present-day philosophy (epistemology) of science and how these are relevant to archaeologists;
A critical, philosophically informed reflection on one’s own ways of handling archaeological data conceptually and theoretically, and a revision or reconfirmation of these;
Insight in presuppositions, research and recent debates regarding violence and conflict and their relevance for archaeology and anthropology;
Ability to critically connect the foregoing to one’s own period and region of archaeological research.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in the RMA and RMSc time schedule.
Mode of instruction
Lectures with guest speakers;
Weekly assignments: posting comments based on the reading list on BlackBoard;
Interaction in class.
Course load
The course load will be distributed as follows:
7×3 hours of lectures (1,5 ec);
500 pages of literature (3,5 ec).
Assessment method
Exam with open questions (80%);
Weekly postings on BlackBoard on the weekly readings (20%).
A retake is possible for the exam only.
Please note that for the PhD-candidates the assessment will be based on the weekly assignments, a paper (2,000-3,000 words) and a final talk. This grade will not be registered in uSis.
All assessment deadlines (exams, retakes, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the RMA and RMSc examination schedule.
Reading list
A presentation on at least 350 pages from one of the following books (your own choice):
- D. Fry (ed.), War, Peace, and Human Nature: The Convergence of Evolutionary and Cultural Views. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2013). 582 pp.
or- A. Gat, War in Human Civilization. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2008). 848 pp.
or- H. Achterhuis, Met Alle Geweld: Een Filosofische Zoektocht. Rotterdam: Lemniscaat (2008). 750 pp. (only for students who read Dutch).
In addition to these 350 pages you have to read at least 5 serious reviews (in refereed journals) on your book of choice and 3 serious reviews each of at least 2 other books. There may be a question on this too
Obligatory for all:
A. Lawler, “The Battle Over Violence” in: Science 18 May 2012: Vol. 336 no. 6083, pp. 829-830;
R. Corbey, “Laying Aside The Spear: Hobbesian and the Maussian Gift” (2006) in: T. Otto, H. Thrane, & H. Vandkilde (eds), Warfare and Society: Archaeological and Social Anthropological Perspectives. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press. pp. 29-36;
R. Corbey & A. Mol, “By Weapons Made Worthy: A Darwinian Perspective on Beowulf” (2012) in: M. Collard & E. Slingerland (eds), Creating Consilience: Integrating the Sciences and the Humanities. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2012). pp. 372-384;
R. Corbey, A note on Putnam. Unpublished ms;
J. Bransen, “Verstehen und Erklären: The Philosophy of – “ (2001) in: N.J. Smelser & P.B. Baltes (eds), International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd. pp. 16165-16170;
A number of relevant book reviews and internet items, specified on BlackBoard.
Registration
Registration for the course or the exam is not required.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact prof. dr. R.H.A. Corbey.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance. You are allowed to miss 1 meeting, but will have to compensate with a paper (approximately 600 words) on the subject matter you missed.