article

Giant fish, giant otters, and dinosaurs: 'apparently irrational beliefs' in a Chipewyan community

American ethnologist • 14 • Published In 1987 • Pages: 226-235

By: Sharp, Henry S..

Abstract

In response to recent formulations of rationalism this paper investigates several nonexistent beings -- giant fish, giant otters, and dinosaurs -- in detail. From the analysis of the material presented in this paper Sharp concludes that explanation of events, at least among the Chipewyan, operates in a completely different manner from that assumed by the rationalists. Instead of reducing events to either a single explanation or to mutually exclusive explanations, they become the foci around which multiple or even conflicting explanations center.

HRAF PubDate

2000

Region

North America

Sub Region

Arctic and Subarctic

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 1989-1991

Field Date

1970-1975

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

'Mission' [probably Black Lake], northwestern Saskatchewan, Canada

Notes

[by] Henry Stephen Sharp

Includes bibliographical references (p. 234-235)

LCCN

74644326

LCSH

Chipewyan Indians