The Domestication of the Savage Mind – Jack Goody – 1977, Cambridge University Press
The Domestication of the Savage Mind
Jack Goody’s The Domestication of the Savage Mind, first published in 1977, examines the relationship between literacy, numeracy, and modes of thought across different cultures. Goody challenges the Western assumption of a linear progression from ‘primitive’ or ‘savage’ thought to ‘civilized’ rationalism. He argues that cultures with highly developed oral traditions possess sophisticated mnemonic techniques and cognitive strategies that are often underestimated when viewed through the lens of literate societies. The work centers on comparing and contrasting the cognitive styles fostered by oral and literate cultures, exploring how the introduction of writing alters the way people perceive, remember, and process information.
Historical / Cultural Context
This book emerged from a period of anthropological debate concerning the impact of literacy on cognition. Prior to Goody’s work, some scholars posited that literacy was a prerequisite for abstract thought and scientific reasoning. Goody, drawing on extensive fieldwork in West Africa (particularly amongst the LoDagaa people), countered this view. He was influenced by the structuralist anthropology of Claude Lévi-Strauss and the work of scholars investigating oral traditions and memory systems. The Domestication of the Savage Mind was a significant contribution to the ‘literacy debate’ of the 1970s and 80s, prompting further research into the cognitive consequences of different communication technologies. Goody’s work challenged Eurocentric biases in anthropology and cognitive science, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the intellectual capabilities of non-literate peoples. The book also arrives during a time of post-colonial thought, seeking to dismantle assumptions about development and intellectual capacity tied to Western models.
Who This Book Is For
This work is primarily geared towards an academic audience, particularly those interested in anthropology, sociology, cognitive science, and the history of ideas. However, its accessible writing style and thought-provoking arguments also make it suitable for informed general readers interested in the relationship between culture, technology, and the human mind. Those interested in understanding different modes of knowledge transmission and the cultural shaping of cognition will find the book particularly rewarding. Its explorations of oral traditions and mnemonic techniques also appeal to readers with an interest in folklore and cultural memory.
Further Reading
- Walter Ong, Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word: A related exploration of the shift from oral to literate cultures and its implications for thought and expression.
- Marshall McLuhan, The Gutenberg Galaxy: A seminal work on the impact of print technology on Western culture.
- Maurice Halbwachs, On Collective Memory: Investigates the social frameworks of memory and the role of collective experience in shaping individual recollections.
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