Section outline

  • Week XV (December 7 & 9) - Definitions and Theory

    Topics:

    ·      defining magic

    ·      magic and religion; magic and science

    ·      performative language and symbolic systems

    ·      conclusions

     

    Readings:

    ·      Smith, Trading Places

    ·      Tambiah, Form and Meaning of Magical Acts

    ·      Versnel, Some Reflections on the Relationship

     

    Supplementary Readings:

    • ·       Aune, Magic in Early Christianity
    • ·       Betz, Magic and Mystery – Magika Hiera ch. 9
    • ·       Braarvig, Magic: Reconsidering the Grand Dichotomy
    • ·       Collins, Nature, Cause, and Agency
    • ·       Edmonds, Extra-Ordinary People
    • ·       Fowler, Greek Magic, Greek Religion
    • ·       Gordon, Aelian's Peony
    • ·       Gordon, Imagining Greek and Roman Magic
    • ·       Segal, Hellenistic Magic: Some Questions of Definition
    • ·       Smith, Here, There, and Anywhere
    • ·       Thomassen, Is Magic a Subclass of Ritual?

     

    Take home final exam due before 12:30 on Friday, December 18