Detachment Essays on the Limits of Relational Thinking [Hardcover]

This interdisciplinary volume questions one of the most fundamental tenets of social theory by focusing on detachment, an important but neglected aspect of social life. Going against the grain of recent theoretical celebrations of engagement, this book challenges us to re-think the relational basis of social theory. In so, doing it brings to light the productive aspects of disconnection, distance and detachment. Rather than treating detachment simply as the moral inversion of compassion and engagement, the volume brings together empirical studies and theoretical comments by leading anthropologists, sociologists and science studies scholars. Taken together, these illustrate the range of contexts within which distance and disconnection can offer meaningful frameworks for action. Positioned at the cutting edge of social theory, this landmark volume will be of great interest to students and academics across the social sciences and humanities.
Introduction: Matei Candea, Jo Cook, Catherine Trundle and Thomas Yarrow

Part I: Professionalism and expertise

1. Some merits and difficulties of detachment - Maryon MacDonald

2. Virtuous detachments in engineering practice - on the ethics of (not) making a difference - Penny Harvey and Hannah Knox

3. Artisanal affection: detachment in human-animal relations within intensive pig production in Britain - Kim Crowder

4. Comment - Veena Das

Part II: Ritual and religion

5. Engaged disbelief: problematics of detachment in Christianity and in the anthropology of Christianity - Joel Robbins

6. Detachment and ethical regard - James Laidlaw

7. Detachment, difference and separation: Levi-Strauss at the wedding feast Caroline Humphrey

8. Comment - Michael Carrithers

Part III: Detaching and situating knowledge

9. The capacity for re-description: environments for hyphens - Alberto Cors?n Jim?nez

10. Test sites: attachments and detachments in community-lÓ5