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The Living Philosophy

Structure vs. Communitas — the Two Modes of Human Society

May 28, 2023
Anthropologist Victor Turner discusses the two modes of human society - Structure and Communitas. They explore how these concepts relate to religion, science, social visions, and brain hemispheres. The episode sets the stage for further exploration of these fundamental aspects of human life.
17:14

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • Structure is the institutionalized hierarchical framework governing roles and status in society.
  • Communitas fosters genuine human connections, conscience, and universal brotherhood beyond societal norms.

Deep dives

Exploring the Duality of Structure and Communitas

The podcast delves into the concept of structure and communitas as a duality that shapes human societies. Structure represents the institutionalized hierarchical framework governing roles and status in society, including political, legal, and economic systems. In contrast, communitas embodies a spontaneous, existential way of relating to others, emphasizing authenticity and concrete connections beyond societal norms. This exploration highlights the contrasting nature of structure as the skeleton of society and communitas as the unstructured, heart-centered mode of interaction.

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