Sense and Non‐sense: Dissemination and Empiricism in Practice

Abstract

Academics often discuss discourses, which is different from our discourse practices.' Postmodern anthropology, in descriptive modes, provides a compelling critique of our representations, institutions, and behaviors based upon the deconstruction of ontology and epistemology. But postmodern anthropology is problematic in its practice modes. Even, and maybe especially, postmodern feminists are likely to be critical of the practice aspects of postmodernism. Postmodern practices seem ambivalent about systems, whereas feminist and scientific anthropologies use them to advantage. Although it is an easy target for many forms of criticism, science may be a more successful practice because it resists the totalization of meaningful-