Local Science Vs Global Science: Approaches to Indigenous Knowledge in International Development

Published by Berghahn Books 2006

Local Science Vs Global Science

Approaches to Indigenous Knowledge in International Development

Edited by: Paul Sillitoe

Volume 4 in the series Environmental Anthropology and Ethnobiology

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781782382102

Overview
Contents

About this book

While science has achieved a remarkable understanding of nature, affording humans an astonishing technological capability, it has led, through Euro-American global domination, to the muting of other cultural views and values, even threatening their continued existence. There is a growing realization that the diversity of knowledge systems demand respect, some refer to them in a conservation idiom as alternative information banks. The scientific perspective is only one. We now have many examples of the soundness of local science and practices, some previously considered “primitive” and in need of change, but this book goes beyond demonstrating the soundness of local science and arguing for the incorporation of others’ knowledge in development, to argue that we need to look quizzically at the foundations of science itself and further challenge its hegemony, not only over local communities in Africa, Asia, the Pacific or wherever, but also the global community. The issues are large and the challenges are exciting, as addressed in this book, in a range of ethnographic and institutional contexts.

Author / Editor information

Paul Sillitoe is Professor of Anthropology, Durham University. His research interests focus on natural resources management, appropriate technology, and development. He specialises in social and environmental change, sustainable livelihoods, human ecology and ethno-science. He has long-standing interests in the Pacific, and more recently in South Asia. He seeks to further the incorporation of local knowledge in development, having experience with several international development agencies.

Reviews

“…a fascinating and unusual effort to address audiences in both social-cultural anthropology and general science…The tone and style of writing is precise and economical while it also retains a level of detail that is ethnographically intriguing.” · American Anthropologist

"The reader will find a great number of ideas and issues to think both with and against, making this both an excellent primer and an ideal undergraduate course book, as well as being of interest to anyone already working in the area of knowledge and development." · Social Anthropology

“This collection is much more than a plea for valuing ‘indigenous’ knowledge. It is a reasoned set of arguments to value those things that cannot be measured…a rich mix of approaches developed here... an important reminder…that Western society may not prove to be the best adapted or most advance social formation in a sustainable future.” · JRAI

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
List of Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
List of Tables Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
List of Contributors Publicly Available Download PDF	x
1. Local Science vs. Global Science: an Overview Paul Sillitoe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. Traditional Medical Knowledge and Twenty-first Century Healthcare: the Interface between Indigenous and Modern Science Gerard Bodeker Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
3. Local and Scientific Understanding of Forest Diversity on Seram, Eastern Indonesia Roy Ellen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
4. ‘Indigenous’ and ‘Scientific’ Knowledge in Central Cape York Peninsula Benjamin R. Smith Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	75
5. On Knowing and Not Knowing: the Many Valuations of Piaroa Local Knowledge Serena Heckler Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
6. The Ashkui Project: Linking Western Science and Innu Environmental Knowledge in Creating a Sustainable Environment Trudy Sable, Geoff Howell, Dave Wilson and Peter Penashue Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
7. Globalisation and the Construction of Western and Non-Western Knowledge Michael R. Dove, Daniel S. Smith, Marina T. Campos, Andrew S. Mathews, Anne Rademacher, Steve Rhee and Laura M. Yoder Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	129
8. Science and Local Knowledge in Sri Lanka: Extension, Rubber and Farming Mariella Marzano Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	155
9. Creating Natural Knowledge: Agriculture, Science and Experiments Alberto Arce and Eleanor Fisher Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	175
10. Is Intellectual Property Protection a Good Idea? Charles Clift Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	191
11. Farmer Knowledge and Scientist Knowledge in Sustainable Agricultural Development: Ontology, Epistemology and Praxis David A Cleveland and Daniela Soleri Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209
12. Forgotten Futures: Scientific Models vs. Local Visions of Land Use Change Robert E. Rhoades and Virginia Nazarea Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	231
13. Counting on Local Knowledge Paul Sillitoe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	257
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	279

Language: English
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 302
Keywords: Environmental Studies (General); Development Studies; Anthropology (General)

eBook

Published: December 1, 2006
ISBN: 9781782382102