I. Historical Origins of Economics

A. Derived from Greek word oikos: house
B. Involves production, circulation, and consumption
C. Economic philosophy in Western Europe

1. Are people "naturally" self-interested or altruistic?
2. "Primitive man" as test case for "natural state"

a. Hobbes (1588-1679): "solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short"
b. Rousseau (1712-1778): "noble savage" lives in peace, prosperity, harmony

3. Adam Smith (1723-1790)

a. homo economicus: rational calculator of utility, maximizing self-interest
b. enlightened self-interest: basic component of human nature that needs to be socially cultivated

D. Sociological and anthropological perspectives

1. Durkheim and social nature
2. Economic anthropologists: moral approach, cultural values, interaction between culture and individual

 

II. Malinowski, kula, and roots of modern economic anthropology

A. Research in Trobriand Islands, Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922).

1. Goal: anthropological veto of homo economicus
2. Click here for map.

B. Kula exchanges of necklaces and armshells

1. "Mutual obligations to trade with each other, to offer protection, hospitality, and assistance whenever needed" (98).
2. Partners compete for good kula items through other exchanges of pigs, yams, blades, etc.
3. Economists: primitive exchange is utilitarian and random
4. Malinowski: kula is non-utilitarian, intricate, complex organization
5. Behavior is rational in its context
6. Other motives besides the rational: prestige, magic, tradition, custom, to display liberality as a virtue

C. Culturally relativist attack on "homo economicus"

 

III. Boas and potlatch

A. Potlatch, from Chinook: "to feed, to consume"
B. Practiced in Pacific Northwest (US and Canada) among Kwakiutl, Haida, Tsimshian,
and Nootka
C. Speeches, dancing, distribution and destruction of property, particularly coppers
D. Interpretations of potlatch

1. Social security, food distribution
2. interest bearing investment of property, social status
3. conflict resolution, substitution for warfare

E. Banned in 1880s in British Columbia because wanton, immoral
F. Boas: potlatch is part of disappearing culture that needs to be preserved

 

IV. Marcel Mauss (1872-1950) and The Gift (1925)

A. What is a gift?
B. Hau: spirit of the gift

1. Given
2. Received
3. Reciprocated

 

For more information, contact:  aleshkow@holycross.edu