The Sociology and Social Anthropology Seminar Series presents: Hans Steinmüller

In Search of Simplicity: Complexity and Complicity in Social Anthropology and in the Social Sciences

Hans Steinmüller

Prof. of anthropology, London School of Economics

Social complexity is often said to increase with technological development, the division of labour, and the centralization of power. Yet, from the perspective of local actors, these very features can serve to simplify the environment. 

Social scientists are often complicit in such processes of simplification, thereby misrecognising the intricate dynamics of interaction in so-called ‘simple societies’. In this lecture, I offer some examples of the complicities of care and violence in rural China and highland Myanmar. To appreciate their complexity, we must attend to emergent forms of simplicity. This may be possible with an anthropological concept of commensuration.

• When: Thursday 6 November
• Where: Gamla kirurgen, Room R240

The Seminar Series

The Sociology and Social Anthropology Seminar Series (Allmänna seminariet) invites international and national researchers to present and discuss on-going research. Each presenter talks for about an hour, followed by about an hour's discussion.

Find more research seminars in this series at soc.lu.se/en/research.

All are welcome, especially students!