Two Forms of Cultural Materialism in Anthropology and in Cultural Studies

Abstract

The author defends the materialism that is used in anthropology, which is a scientifically rigorous materialism based on, in his view, firm economic foundations. This is in contrast to the materialism used in cultural studies and prevalent critical theories, which he believes overthrow knowledge and the economic base, and even every general theory in history, and which is interested in the superstructure and cultural rather than economic conflict, as well as being characterized by relativism and a formal radicalism.