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Worldviews in Collision/Worldviews in Metamorphosis: Toward a Multistate Paradigm
Article first published online: 10 MAR 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-3537.2011.01037.x
© 2011 by the American Anthropological Association
Additional Information
How to Cite
SCHROLL, M. A. and GREENWOOD, S. (2011), Worldviews in Collision/Worldviews in Metamorphosis: Toward a Multistate Paradigm. Anthropology of Consciousness, 22: 49–60. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-3537.2011.01037.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 10 MAR 2011
- Article first published online: 10 MAR 2011
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- shamanism;
- Frankenstein;
- magic;
- philosophy of science;
- transpersonal ecosophy
ABSTRACT
This article is an extended commentary inspired by Alan Drengson's paper “Shifting Paradigms: From Technocrat to Planetary Person” (Drengson 2011). In this article Susan Greenwood and I echo Drengson's criticism that Euro-American science is incomplete, having committed what Thomas Roberts calls “The Singlestate Fallacy: the erroneous assumption that all worthwhile abilities reside in our normal, awake mindbody state” (Roberts 2006:105). This singlestate fallacy is vividly portrayed in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, whose critique of Euro-American science is revisited in this article. Alternatively, Greenwood and I suggest that what is needed is a multimodel framework “that allows for in-depth analysis of the different modes of consciousness.” Roberts refers to this alternative attitude toward science as the Multistate Paradigm. An awareness of the transformational character of shamanism is also explored in this article as a means to overcome the oppositions between the technocratic and person planetary perspective, and their related gender associations.