9780226345666 - Kings and Councillors: An Essay in the Comparative Anatomy of Human Society (Classics in Anthropology) von Hocart, A. M. (1 Ergebnisse)

Paperback. Zustand: Fair. THERE ARE NO TARIFFS OR CUSTOMS DUTIES ON BOOKS. Kings and Councillors: An Essay in the Comparative Anatomy of Human Society traces the evolution of the modern state and complex government organization from ancient forms of ritual and social structure. Hocart argues that governance evolved from life-giving ritual activities, with the king figure originating as the leader of these ceremonies. The book's main theme is that all people fundamentally desire the same things (longevity, vitality, health, and contentment) and organize their societies, and eventually their governments, around ritual activities designed to assure the good life. Hocart uses a functional and comparative approach to analyse how different societies, from ancient Greece and Rome to modern states, have developed similar structures of kingship and governance. A key insight is the idea of dyadic authority, where power is often split between an other-worldly (symbolic) king and a worldly (ruling) minister or councillor. The work is considered a ground-breaking classic in anthropology, inspiring later thinkers like Claude L?-Strauss and Ernest Becker, and it is praised for its insights into culture, kingship, civilization, politics, power, and human nature.