CG
Philosophy & Social Sciences

Clifford Geertz

Who

Clifford Geertz · Philosophy & Social Sciences

What

Founder of interpretive anthropology and 'thick description', author of 'The Interpretation of Cultures'

When

1926, San Francisco, California, USA — 2006, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Where

United States · Indonesia · Morocco

Biography

Clifford Geertz is recognized among Jewish contributors to Philosophy & Social Sciences — Founder of interpretive anthropology and 'thick description', author of 'The Interpretation of Cultures'

How & why

Geertz founded interpretive (symbolic) anthropology and, in 'The Interpretation of Cultures' (1973), advanced 'thick description' — reading cultures as webs of meaning to be interpreted rather than laws to be measured. His fieldwork in Java, Bali and Morocco reshaped the humanities and social sciences. Standard biographical sources do not document a Jewish identity, though he appears in some listings of Jewish anthropologists.

Sources & external links

Verify and go deeper with these external references.

Source: Jinfo.org — Jews in Anthropology

Contributions & Sources

Founder of interpretive anthropology and 'thick description', author of 'The Interpretation of Cultures'

1926

Source: Jinfo.org — Jews in Anthropology