Skip to main content
The Dance of Person and Place

The Dance of Person and Place

By Norton-Smith, Thomas M.

Published by State University of New York Press

English 187 pages 2010
Estimated reading time: 3 h 26 min
PDF

About this book

Uses the concept of "worldmaking" to provide an introduction to American Indian philosophy. Ever since first contact with Europeans, American Indian stories about how the world is have been regarded as interesting objects of study, but also as childish and savage, philosophically curious and ethically monstrous. Using the writings of early ethnographers and cultural anthropologists, early narratives told or written by Indians, and scholarly work by contemporary Native writers and philosophers, Shawnee philosopher Thomas Norton-Smith develops a rational reconstruction of American Indian philosophy as a dance of person and place. He views Native philosophy through the lens of a culturally sophisticated constructivism grounded in the work of contemporary American analytic philosopher Nelson Goodman, in which stories (or "world versions") satisfying certain criteria construct actual worlds-words make worlds. Ultimately, Norton-Smith argues that the Native stories construct real worlds as robustly as their Western counterparts, and, in so doing, he helps to bridge the chasm between Western and American Indian philosophical traditions.

Availability

The Dance of Person and Place is available as PDF at 9 online bookshops. Bookshops carrying it include Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam, Bookshop Uruguay.

Language
English
Share

Frequently asked questions

In what formats is The Dance of Person and Place available?
The Dance of Person and Place is available as PDF at 9 online bookshops.
Where can I buy The Dance of Person and Place?
You can buy The Dance of Person and Place at Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam, Bookshop Uruguay. Compare every option in the list on this page.
How long does it take to read The Dance of Person and Place?
At an average reading pace, The Dance of Person and Place takes about 3 h 26 min to read (187 pages).

Ratings & reviews

No ratings yet. Be the first to review this book.

Sign in to rate and review this book.

Comments

Sign in to join the conversation.

No comments yet.