Douglas: Symbols & Society

Mary Douglas's "Abominations of Leviticus" argues that different cultures create unique symbolic orders. These symbolic orders divide up the world into different categories. No symbolic order is perfect; certain objects or things transgress defy these orders. Such objects are liable to be thought of as disgusting and filthy.

So this, according to Douglas is how the Ancient Jews thought: "Cows, sheep, and goats have a two-part digestion process (rumination) and they had a two part hoof. That is what a proper edible animal has. Pigs have two part hoof but only one part digestion process--disgusting!

About me:
I'm Nick Herriman. This presentation is part of subject, Symbols and Society, an introduction to the way anthropologists think about symbols.