Abstract:

Renowned anthropologist Mary Douglas’s Purity and Danger is well-known for its in-depth analysis of pollution and social order. However, it also, to some extent, obscures her later reflections on religious scriptures and modern Western society. Comparing it with Leviticus as Literature, published thirty years later, we can more vividly outline Douglas’s intellectual trajectory and the generative process of her cultural theories. The influence and turbulence of Catholic thought traditions and anthropological paradigms shaped her views on “order”, “tolerance”, and even “freedom”. Douglas’ case suggests that anthropology and modern social theory may not be as detached from specific historical and intellectual sympathies as they claim. The continuity and evolution of scholarly ideas are always influenced by particular ideological traditions. Therefore, it is necessary for us to consciously understand the epistemological foundations and possibilities of modern social theory.

Key words: Purity and Danger, Leviticus as Literature, ordered universe, history of anthropological thought