Books & Scholarly Works

References to books and academic studies related to Oraclepedia’s themes.

Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Misinformation and Its Correction: Continued Influence and Successful Debiasing – Stephan Lewandowsky, Ullrich K. H. Ecker, Colleen M. Seifert, Norbert Schwarz, John Cook – Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Vol 13, Issue 3, 2012

A foundational study in cognitive psychology that examines the ‘continued influence effect’ and why the human mind remains anchored to misinformation after correction. The work explores the mental models of belief and provides evidence-based strategies for effective debiasing.

Read More Misinformation and Its Correction: Continued Influence and Successful Debiasing – Stephan Lewandowsky, Ullrich K. H. Ecker, Colleen M. Seifert, Norbert Schwarz, John Cook – Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Vol 13, Issue 3, 2012
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Moon, Sun, and Witches: Gender Ideologies and Class in Inca and Colonial Peru – Irene Silverblatt – Princeton University Press, 1987

Irene Silverblatt explores the transformation of gender and class hierarchies in the Andes, examining how Inca systems of gender parallelism were dismantled and recast as witchcraft under Spanish colonial rule.

Read More Moon, Sun, and Witches: Gender Ideologies and Class in Inca and Colonial Peru – Irene Silverblatt – Princeton University Press, 1987
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Metamorphosis and Identity – Caroline Walker Bynum – First Edition, Zone Books, 2001

A scholarly exploration of the concepts of metamorphosis and mutation in the Middle Ages, examining how medieval views on the body and transformation shaped the modern Western understanding of identity.

Read More Metamorphosis and Identity – Caroline Walker Bynum – First Edition, Zone Books, 2001
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Magic, Science and Religion and Other Essays – Bronisław Malinowski – Free Press, 1948 (Posthumous collection)

A cornerstone of anthropological theory investigating the functional roles of magic, science, and religion. Malinowski argues that these are not developmental stages but distinct cognitive tools that all human societies use to manage uncertainty and establish social order.

Read More Magic, Science and Religion and Other Essays – Bronisław Malinowski – Free Press, 1948 (Posthumous collection)
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Man and Nature – Seyyed Hossein Nasr – 1968 (Allen & Unwin / HarperCollins)

A landmark philosophical study arguing that the ecological crisis is a symptom of a deeper spiritual crisis, caused by the modern secularization of nature and the loss of the traditional ‘sacred sciences.’

Read More Man and Nature – Seyyed Hossein Nasr – 1968 (Allen & Unwin / HarperCollins)
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Making Sense of Sensemaking – George Klein, Brian Moon, Robert R. Hoffman – 2006, IEEE Intelligent Systems

A cognitive analysis of situational understanding that introduces the Data-Frame Theory of sensemaking. The authors explore how individuals and teams use mental models to organize information and manage uncertainty in complex, real-world environments.

Read More Making Sense of Sensemaking – George Klein, Brian Moon, Robert R. Hoffman – 2006, IEEE Intelligent Systems
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Magic, Reason and Experience – Geoffrey Lloyd – 1977, Cambridge University Press

Lloyd’s work challenges traditional views of the emergence of scientific thought in ancient Greece, demonstrating the complex interplay between magic, religion, and early forms of natural philosophy.
It highlights the cultural context and intellectual foundations of ancient Greek attempts to understand the natural world.
The book is valuable for those interested in the history of science, classical studies, and the history of ideas.

Read More Magic, Reason and Experience – Geoffrey Lloyd – 1977, Cambridge University Press
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Local Knowledge – Clifford Geertz – Basic Books, 1983

Geertz’s *Local Knowledge* presents a foundational work in interpretive anthropology, emphasizing the importance of understanding culture as a locally constructed system of meaning. The book advocates for ‘thick description’ as a method for nuanced cultural analysis.

Read More Local Knowledge – Clifford Geertz – Basic Books, 1983
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Landscape and Power in Early China – Feng Li – 1991

This book investigates the crucial role of landscape in the formation of political and cultural identity in early China.
It demonstrates how early Chinese elites actively shaped their environment to legitimize rule and construct cosmology.
It offers a nuanced understanding of the reciprocal relationship between humans and the natural world in ancient Chinese civilization.

Read More Landscape and Power in Early China – Feng Li – 1991
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Knowledge and Secrecy in an Aboriginal Religion – Ian Keen – 1991

Ian Keen’s work offers a detailed ethnography of Pitjantjatjara beliefs, focusing on the vital connection between sacred knowledge, secrecy, and the ongoing reality of *tjukurpa* (the Dreaming).
It’s a valuable resource for understanding complex Aboriginal worldviews and the importance of knowledge maintenance.

Read More Knowledge and Secrecy in an Aboriginal Religion – Ian Keen – 1991