Geertz, Clifford

Geertz, Clifford

▪ American anthropologist
in full  Clifford James Geertz  
born Aug. 23, 1926, San Francisco, Calif., U.S.
died Oct. 30, 2006, Philadelphia, Pa.

      American cultural anthropologist, a leading rhetorician and proponent of symbolic anthropology and interpretive anthropology.

      After service in the U.S. Navy in World War II (1943–45), Geertz studied at Antioch College, Ohio (B.A., 1950), and Harvard University (Ph.D., 1956). He taught or held fellowships at a number of schools before joining the anthropology staff of the University of Chicago (1960–70). In 1970 he became professor of social science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., where he retired as professor emeritus in 2000.

      At Chicago, Geertz became a champion of symbolic (symbol) anthropology, which gives prime attention to the role of thought—of “symbols”—in society. Symbols guide action. Culture, according to Geertz, is “a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life.” The function of culture is to impose meaning on the world and make it understandable. The role of anthropologists is to try—though complete success is not possible—to interpret the guiding symbols of each culture.

      Geertz's writings tend to be rhetorical and idiosyncratic, more given to metaphors and examples than simple exposition. Among his major works are The Religion of Java (1960), Person, Time, and Conduct in Bali (1966), The Interpretation of Cultures (1973), Local Knowledge: Further Essays in Interpretive Anthropology (1983), and Works and Lives: The Anthropologist as Author (1988).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Geertz, Clifford James — ▪ 2007       American cultural anthropologist (b. Aug. 23, 1926, San Francisco, Calif. d. Oct. 30, 2006, Philadelphia, Pa.), was a leading rhetorician and proponent of symbolic anthropology and interpretive anthropology. After service (1943–45)… …   Universalium

  • Geertz, Clifford (James) — born Aug. 23, 1926, San Francisco, Calif., U.S. U.S. cultural anthropologist, a leading proponent of a form of anthropology that stresses the importance of symbols and interpretation in human social life. Culture, according to Geertz, is a system …   Universalium

  • Geertz, Clifford (James) — (n. 23 ago. 1926, San Francisco, Cal., EE.UU.). Antropólogo cultural estadounidense. Es uno de los principales defensores de una vertiente de la antropología que resalta la importancia de los símbolos y la interpretación en la vida social humana …   Enciclopedia Universal

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  • Clifford James Geertz — (* 23. August 1926 in San Francisco; † 30. Oktober 2006 in Philadelphia) war ein US amerikanischer Ethnologe. Er gilt als bedeutendster Vertreter der interpretativen Ethnologie. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Ethnologisch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Clifford Geertz — Clifford James Geertz (San Francisco, 23 de agosto de 1926 30 de octubre de 2006) fue un antropólogo estadounidense que fue profesor del Institute for Advanced Study, de la Universidad de Princeton, Nueva Jersey. Contenido 1 Vida 2 Pensamiento y… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Clifford C. Geertz — Clifford Geertz Clifford Geertz (2 août 1926 à San Francisco 30 octobre 2006 à Philadelphie) était un anthropologue américain. Il est présenté comme un anthropologue postmoderne, mais il préférait se présenter comme un… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Geertz — Clifford Geertz Clifford Geertz (2 août 1926 à San Francisco 30 octobre 2006 à Philadelphie) était un anthropologue américain. Il est présenté comme un anthropologue postmoderne, mais il préférait se présenter comme un… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Clifford — (as used in expressions) Allbutt, Sir Thomas Clifford Brown, Clifford Geertz, Clifford (James) Joseph Clifford Montana, Jr. Odets, Clifford …   Enciclopedia Universal

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