Journal of Anthropology Reports

Abstrakt

The Anthropology of Uncertainty: Magic, Witchcraft and Risk and Forensic Implications

Simon Dein

This paper examines the anthropology of uncertainty. After a discussion of what constitutes uncertainty, I examine different ways of dealing with it in non-Western cultures: witchcraft, magic, and religion. I then move on to a discussion of contemporary aspects of risk in Western societies. I discuss its historical emergence and the relationship between risk, sin, and taboo. Witchcraft, religion, and risk all provide an explanatory framework for misfortune. Witchcraft also involves questions of responsibility. This is similarly true of risk. Both witchcraft and risk have forensic implications. I illustrate this using the work of Mary Douglas.