Anthropology, English, and Religion Glossary

Note: these terms give a very brief account of the material learned in class and most often, what was covered in class does not account all of these authors’ influential ideas.*

Clifford Geertz—20th century American anthropologist who created the term “thick description.” He argued that when one observes human interaction, the individual must be aware of the context and not just describe the behaviors.
Michel Foucault—20th century French philosopher who argued that knowledge and power cannot be pulled apart from one another. Knowledge is a form of control. For instance, in his work Discipline and Punish, he explains that in the prison, prison guards’ have power over the prisoners because they have the knowledge that comes from observing them, but also have the knowledge of how they can reform (for which the prisoners take classes).

Miguel de Unamuno—20th century Spaniard who suggested that one may possess a belief in a faith, but not consciously be aware of it. He implies in his existential novella San Manuel Matryr that a man may consciously doubt in the authenticity of a belief, but still sacrifice himself for the sake of its values—which is belief.
Leo Tolstoy—19th century Russian novelist whose novella The Death of Ivan Ilych illustrated existential themes. In the novella’s conclusion, the protagonist is able to transcend his fear of death by caring for his family rather than focusing upon himself.
John Milton—17th century English poet who is most famous for his epic poem Paradise Lost. This poem tells the tale of “man’s first disobedience,” and describes the feelings and intentions of the Father, the Son, Satan, Adam, and Eve during the Fall. At the least, this poem is an excellent psychological observation of human nature.
Monica Ali—21st century British/Bangladeshi novelist who wrote Brick Lane, a tale about a Bangladeshi woman who immigrates to England due to her arranged marriage. The story depicts how immigration can cause one to be in a cultural-limbo: the protagonist faces the dilemma of remaining faithful to her past cultural values or adopting her present British values.

Augustine of Hippo—2nd century bishop whose autobiography Confessions influenced Western culture with his ideas surrounding the moral weakness of the flesh and the divided will. He depicted a separation between a person’s spirit and physical being, along with the conflicted will. In Confessions, he explained how he wanted to turn to God in his days of gluttony, but a part of him would resist amending his ways. Only when he completely willed that he wanted to turn to God, was he able to overcome the weakness of the flesh. His portrait is to the right.
Thomas Aquinas—13th century theologian whose work of Summa Theologica described the influential idea of natural law. According to Aquinas, all people possess the reason to deduce whether certain actions are moral.