Expanding on an earlier post (*), Chantel Tattoli (*) writes on the importantance of understanding (*) Why:
Why? Why would someone do that?via The Anthropology of the Little Mermaid (*) by Chantel Tattoli (*).
Why is the slippery question cultural anthropologists are always trying to get at.
As a rule of thumb, if we do not get why, we probably don’t understand (*) the perspective (*).
The thing to do is try to see yourself in the other peoples’ shoes, because from the perspective of the Other’s shoes, their behavior should make more sense.
This is the golden rule. Even when it’s hard.
I paraphrase the late anthropologist Clifford Geertz To understand, isn’t to forgive (*).
Thanks Chantel, some great thoughts in your words.
If you look, really look, you will always find something you weren't expecting. Even if you can't figure why, you might just be a bit more understanding.
