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Setting aside the whole recent tangent of this discussion, I would like to suggest that those interested in these larger questions — eurocentrism, ethnocentrism, colonialist thought, sweeping generalizations of cultural areas in either direction, relevance of these issues to category formations, etc. — may want to look closely at the famous debate between Marshall Sahlins and Gananath Obeyesekere about the death of Captain Cook. I think if one takes both of these very distinguished scholars seriously, and works carefully through all their arguments, one would find it very difficult to continue the present acrid exchange on the present terms. This is not to say that there is a correct answer: excellent scholars have come to strongly opposed conclusions about this debate. But Sahlins and Obeyesekere raise the intellectual bar for discussing these issues by a disconcerting amount. For those who don't know the debate, start with Sahlins, Islands of History. Read it all, and be sure to think very carefully through the chapters on Cook. Then read Obeyesekere, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook. You'll need to read and think about the notes as well. Finally, read Sahlins, How "Natives" Think: About Captain Cook, For Example. Again, you'll have to read the whole thing, notes included. Having done that, it's helpful to go and reread chunks of Obeyesekere's book, and so on. Note: if you have read this stuff and think the answer is clear and obvious, read again: it isn't. Note also that no summary, e.g., the summary on Wikipedia or some class website, will accurately represent the intricacies and depth of a debate this sophisticated. Chris Lehrich Christopher I. Lehrich Assistant Professor, Boston University Vice President, North American Association for the Study of Religion On Jan 25, 2013, at 2:00 PM, mandrake <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Dear all > > Interesting article here on european enthocentrism - > > Can non-Europeans think? > > ( http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/01/2013114142638797542.html ) > > mogg