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