Reading: Malinowski, "Kula"
Mauss, The Gift (intro, chap 1, 2, 4)
Carsten, "Cooking Money" (article)

1. In what ways is the kula described by Malinowski economic? How is it social and cultural?

2. Mauss ends his book by criticizing Western European capitalism for being "at odds with morality" (66). What, specifically, does he mean by this? Do you agree?

3. What does Mauss mean by a "total social fact"? How is his method different from others we have studied? What are its strengths and weaknesses?

4. In the article by Carsten, what is the relationship between gender, money, and commodity exchange? How are discourses about money and morality used to convey attitudes toward economic change?

5. All of our readings on this topic criticize capitalism and the field of economics. How would you compare their approaches? Which arguments do you find more compelling or insightful? Why?

 

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