Paper short abstract:

The presentation explores how critical anthropology reshapes perspectives and ways of living. The focus includes examining which aspects of indigenous knowledge are regarded as having the potential for radical transformation and the decolonization of Western thought.

Paper long abstract:

The desire for change is deeply ingrained within the Western imaginary, manifested through various discourses of growth, transformation, and enhancement across personal and societal realms, all seeking to transcend the present reality. This pursuit is evident in aspirations ranging from economic and technological dreams to societal justice, personal development, and spiritual enlightenment. Anthropology, since its inception, actively contributed to reshaping Western perspectives, with critical anthropology playing a pivotal role. As emphasized by Gassan Hage, critical anthropology enables us to recognize that we have the potential to be radically different from what we are (Hage 2012: 289). Throughout the discipline's history, anthropologists have employed diverse modes of critical analysis to demonstrate that Western ways of being in the world are not universally fixed but rather open to transformation. This presentation explores how anthropology is involved in "decolonizing thought," presenting evidence of alternative lifestyles and interactions with the world. The focus will particularly be on reflecting upon which aspects of indigenous knowledge are considered transformational and the premises guiding such selectivity. My focus is therefore on recognizing what we desire to become and how anthropology is helping us in achieving it.