Talk:Cannibals and Kings
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Why is the Marvin Harris biography link on this page instead of on a Marvin Harris page? -- Zoe
- Because there is no Marvin Harris page. I'm sure the link will be moved to Marvin Harris's page as soon as there is one. Hope this helps. -- Oliver P. 23:25 Mar 22, 2003 (UTC)
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- Not really. -- Zoe
[edit] Harris on state and some other points
I seem to remember that Harris discusses in a very interesting way the birth of the state institution in "Cannibals and Kings" (beginning with feasts the "big men"(?) gave and ending up with food storehouses guarded by the trusted men of kings, pharaohes and so on).
The discussion on sacred cows points out nicely how human rationality - or utility seeking - is relative, depending on cultural values or on how well people understand the complicated processes of nature and society.
The importance of cannibalism for the Aztec's, and the explanation Harris gives for its importance, seems to ignored by other anthropolgists. In my opinion it was convincing.
I remeber wondering why manure is not in the list of what pigs produce. At least cows were often kept mostly because they produced manure.
A very good book!
