A Inconstância da Alma Selvagem

by Eduardo Viveiros de Castro

A trajetória intelectual de Eduardo Viveiros de Castro, um dos maiores antropólogos da atualidade, é editada pela primeira vez em um único volume. Em grande parte centrados nas sociedades amazônicas, os nove ensaios revistos pelo autor buscam alcançar o pensamento indígena. Para tanto, travam um forte diálogo com a filosofia, do qual resulta, por exemplo, o conceito de "perspectivismo", que permite entender como os índios veem os animais e a si mesmos.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Brazil, Indigenous, History, Social Science

529 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2002

About the author

Eduardo Viveiros de Castro is a Professor of Social Anthropology at the National Museum, Rio de Janeiro.

Reviews

[Peter N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little pamphlet! It considers cannibalism and warfare as that which produces the socius through (literally) incorporating the Other; religion (in the Western paradigm of a structured system of belief clung to by individuals) and its tenuousness in the absence of the state; conversion as cannibalism; whether eating human flesh is really tasty or merely socially necessary... fun stuff like that. This is my favourite quotation, taken from a 16th-century European source:

“During this Cunhambebe had in front of him a large basket full of human flesh. He was eating from a leg; he held it for me in front of my mouth and asked me if I would like to eat as well. I responded: “An irrational animal would not eat another of its kind, and should a man devour another man?” He then bit it and said, “Jauára ichê. I am a jaguar. It’s delicious.” I withdrew from him, having seen this.”

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

obrigado por tudo, pai

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelentes contribuições a ontologia indígena brasileira

[Rusty del Norte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inconstancy of the Indian Soul, translated into English by Gregory Duff Morton, is a exploration of Portuguese encounters with Tupi - with a lot of focus on the Tupinamba group. It discusses the earliest contacts, such as Hans Staben, whom wrote about his encounters with the cannibalism he saw, & goes into the Jesuit efforts to confront it.

The cannibalistic practices of these peoples varied by region, but some were very strongly linked to the practice. Those whom seemed to have a strong affinity for the 'rite' were the Tupinamba. The men, whom were the 'warriors', would seek the vengeance by killing of the enemy. Thus, the groups practiced a form of exocannibalism as the didn't eat members of their own group. This importance, with the cracking of the skull & the roasting of the flesh, was a form of vengeance more honorable than dying of unimportance & being consumed by maggots.

The Jesuits are the primary sources in the European encounters with these peoples. Manuel da Nóbrega & José de Anchieta are of major importance in their writing in trying to stamp out indian practices of violence, vengeance, and cannibalism. They considered these native peoples hard to convert as they would agree with what the Jesuits would preach to them & then forget it all. Nobrega, Anchieta, & others would complain about this issue. They considered the lack of a central authority a major reason why these peoples behaved in such a way.

Overall, this is an an extremely well written & informative book. It gives a look as to how Europeans reacted to such a unusual societal structure & practice. It was very eye opening. I could not recommend it more for anybody thinking about the study of proselytization, post-Colombian Native American Society, general history, & other. I might read it again at some point.

[Molsa Roja(s) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre très très interessant de le plus célèbre anthropologue contemporain, court mais spectaculaire et qui répond une question qui est toujours là, quand on pense à la découverte d'Amérique et le genocide qui la suivait; comment ils on fait, les Européens, les Chrétiens, pour tuer et convertir tous ces gens, très différents entre eux? Monsieur Viveiros de Castro met ses yeux ici sur les Tupi du Brésil, un peuple connu pour ses habitudes cannibales, et montre les difficultés des pères chrétiennes pour les convertir, donné qu'ils n'avaient ni loi, ni roi, ni foi comme dogma; ils ne comprenaient cette foi aveugle, ni voulaient vraiment suivre des ordres; ils préféraient, toujours, de poursuivre la guerre, la vengeance, continuer avec le vin et la chair humaine. En donné que les pères chrétiens ne pouvaient changer les adultes, ils ont enlevés les enfants, et voilà précisément comment un ethnocide a lieu.

[Evan Goob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that requires both digestion and reflection alike.

Viveiros de Castro examines the philosophy and practice of cannibalism among the Tupinambá tribe, who were members of the larger Tupi ethnic group that predominated the coastal regions of present-day Brazil. The text is as much philosophical as it is anthropological, spurring questions no less relevant in our own day about matters concerning Being and Becoming.

What I am saying is that Tupinambá philosophy affirmed an essential ontological incompleteness: the incompleteness of sociality, and, in general, of humanity. It was, in other words, an order where interiority and identity were encompassed by exteriority and difference, where becoming and relationship prevailed over being and substance.

A short but highly engrossing read.

[Felipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Nossa ideia corrente de cultura projeta uma paisagem antropológica povoada de estátuas de mármore, não de murta: museu clássico antes que jardim barroco. Entendemos que toda sociedade tende a perseverar no seu próprio ser, e que a cultura é a forma reflexiva deste ser; pensamos que é necessária uma pressão violenta, maciça, para que ela se deforme e transforme. Mas, sobretudo, cremos que o ser de uma sociedade é seu perseverar: a memória e a tradição são o mármore identitário de que é feita a cultura. Estimamos, por fim, que, uma vez convertidas em outras que si mesmas, as sociedades que perderam sua tradição não têm volta. Não há retroceder, a forma anterior foi ferida de morte; o máximo que se pode esperar é a emergência de um simulacro inautêntico de memória, onde a “etnicidade” e a má consciência partilham o espaço da cultura extinta.” p. 110

[Roger Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content is great but the citations are poor and the book lacks a bibliography.

[Otto Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aangename eerste introductie met Viveiros de Castro. leest vlot. love me sm cannibal metaphysics