Patterns of Thought in Africa and the West
Essays on Magic, Religion and Science

Robin Horton's critical and creative writings on African religious thought have influenced anthropologists, philosophers, and all those interested in the comparative study of religion and thought. This selection of some of his classic papers, with a new introduction and postscript by the author, traces Horton's theoretical ideas over thirty years. In attempting to understand African religious thought, he also tackles broader issues in the history and sociology of thought, such as secularisation and modernisation. Part I is a critical assessment of two established interpretive approaches, the Symbolist and the Theological. Part II proposes an alternative 'Intellectualist' approach that emphasises the structural and processual similarities between religious and scientific thinking. The postscript appraises the Intellectualist approach in the light of theorising about religion and world views.

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'It is a pleasure to return to his clean and clear prose, which sometimes allows one to forget how difficult the matters he is dealing with are … it is splendid to have the major papers in one volume. No one is likely to agree with Robin Horton always, but we can all be grateful that he is there both to learn from and to dispute with.' The Times Literary Supplement

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Product details

• Date Published: August 1997
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9780521369268
• length: 484 pages

• dimensions: 229 x 152 x 27 mm
• weight: 0.71kg
• availability: Available