Azande Witchcraft

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How can the Azande witchcraft practice be understood in the light of epistemological relativism and rationalism?

In his excellent work, Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic among the Azande, the anthropologist E.E. Evans-Pritchard portrays the convictions and practices of the African tribe, the Azande. As indicated by Azande conviction, different adversities experienced in day by day life may be credited to the activity of witches. Somebody may fall sick, harvests may come up short or a cottage may burst into flames. Such occasions may be because of the enchantment of a witch who lives close by. Azande witchcraft includes no ceremonies, spells or meds. Evans-Pritchard depicts it is a psychic demonstration whereby "the spirit of witchcraft" leaves …show more content…

One of these, which Evans-Pritchard calls the "toxic substance prophet", is utilized to answer an exceptionally expansive scope of inquiries (1976: 122). The toxin prophet is the favored path for the Azande to figure out if a specific disaster is because of the activity of a witch. In the toxic substance prophet, a harmful substance known as benge is directed to a chicken (1976: 134-8). A progression of inquiries is postured. The chicken is either unaffected by the toxin or, all the more every now and again, has brutal fits. At times the chicken kicks the bucket. Be that as it may, generally as frequently it survives. The way in which the chicken responds to the toxic substance is translated as showing the vicinity or nonattendance of witchcraft. In specific circumstances, for instance if a legitimate matter is in question, toxic substance is regulated to …show more content…

The prophet serves as an epistemic standard which works in Azande society as the premise for convictions about witchcraft. I will utilize the Azande poison prophet as a case of an option epistemic standard, which may be engaged in backing of epistemological relativism. The contention I will present utilizes the old doubtful issue of the paradigm as the premise for the case of

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