French anthropologist who works as the Director of Studies at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences. He is one of the most influential French anthropologists and is best known as one of the earliest advocates of Marxisms incorporation into anthropology. He is also known for his field work among the Baruya in Papua New Guinea from the 1960s to the 1980s. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less
Born: February 28, 1934, Cambrai, France
Maurice Godelier is a prominent French anthropologist known for his structural Marxist approach and extensive fieldwork among the Baruya people of Papua New Guinea. He has significantly contributed to economic anthropology, the study of kinship, and the analysis of ritual and myth.
Godelier's work has been heavily influenced by Marx, Lévi-Strauss, and Althusser. He held a prominent position at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris. His research explores the interplay between infrastructure (economic base) and superstructure (culture, ideology) in shaping societies, particularly focusing on the role of kinship systems and symbolic representations in economic relations.
Some of Godelier's most influential publications include The Production of Great Men: Power and Domination among the Baruya of New Guinea, The Enigma of the Gift, and The Mental and the Material. These works delve into topics like the social construction of leadership, the significance of gift exchange in different cultures, and the relationship between mental representations and material practices. He has also explored the conceptualization of the "sacred" in pre-capitalist societies.
Information on Godelier's very recent activities and public presence is limited in readily available online sources. Scholarly databases and potentially French-language resources may offer more up-to-date information. As a highly respected figure in anthropology, he likely continues to influence the field through his past work, which remains a subject of study and debate.
Maurice Godelier maintains a low online profile. Dedicated social media accounts associated with him are not readily apparent. Information about his work is primarily found through academic publications, libraries, university websites, and references in anthropological literature.