Formation of sociology of the body in France: M. Moss, A. Lerois-Guran, K. Levi-Stross, M. Fuko

Abstract

Making the sociology of the body as an independent scientific discipline based on the work of the French social anthropology. Problematization of physicality in anthropology actually begins with the category of “techniques of the body”. This concept was first introduced in the scientific turnover by the French anthropologist and ethnographer Marcel moss. Described techniques are based on extensive ethnographic material on the basis of which he formulates two basic classifications. After Moss, the category of “techniques of the body” continues to develop his student Andre Leroy-Gourhan and exploring physicality through the lens of instrumentality. This article also presents a description of the work “Techniques of the body” by French ethnologist K. Levi-Stross and his overall assessment of the work of M. moss, with personal additions and comments.As previously indicated, the problematization of the “body”, founded by M. moss in anthropology, became the Foundation for building theories that work with physicality and in other disciplines. In the present work shows the transition on an interdisciplinary level. It is associated with the figure of the French philosopher, historian and sociologist Michel Foucault. The body in his concept considers as the object of power. Continuing the tradition established by its predecessors in the mainstream of anthropology, Foucault brings the issue of physicality to a new level, laying the foundations of the sociology of the body.Showing that the body is not just an appendage, but a full-fledged object of study, M. moss not only expanded the subject field of anthropology to include physicality, but also opened the opportunity to develop this category for sociology, linguistics, psychology, history, religion and other disciplines.