Kin Matters: Relational Beings in the Fragile Sciences [Hardcover]

Kin, relatives, families. They all matter to us, even make us who we are.Kin Mattersexamines three connected themes that matter for anthropologists: the nature of relations, incest and its avoidance, and the study of kinship in cultural anthropology. It develops an integrative framework for thinking about kin matters advocating for more fluidity between the cognitive, biological, and social sciences-the fragile sciences-than typically found in those sciences and in reflection on them. Along the way,Kin Mattersoffers a novel account of relations, challenges culture-first explanations of incest avoidance, and gently redirects the study of kinship.Kin and kinship matter to us. We are social creatures and our kin or relatives are typically high on the list of those most important to us. Kin are those we care for and who care for us. Our family ties provide a sense of where and with whom we belong. Kin matters also impose boundaries on who we relate to and how, including in sexual and other intimate matters. The study of kinship has been a cornerstone of anthropology throughout its history, but kin matters matter beyond the confines of any academic discipline.Kin Matters: Relational Beings in the Fragile Sciencesexamines three related themes in the philosophy of anthropology concerning kin matters: the nature of relations, incest and its avoidance, and the study of kinship in cultural anthropology. It develops an integrative framework for thinking about kin matters recognizing that that there should be much more fluidity between the cognitive, biological, and social sciences--the fragile sciences--than one typically finds both in those sciences and in philosophical reflection on them. Along the way,Kin Mattersoffers a novel account of relations, challenges culture-first explanations of incest avoidance, and advocates for a redirection in the study of kinship.Kin Mattersbegins by reflecting on our standing asrelatilC"