Adventures in the Archaic: Primitivism, Degrowth, and the French Social Sciences, 1945-1975 - Hardcover
$189.66
Skip to product information
Adventures in the Archaic: Primitivism, Degrowth, and the French Social Sciences, 1945-1975 - Hardcover
$189.66
Shipping calculated at checkout.
by Ryan L. Allen (Author)
Examines how four intellectuals with ties to the French social sciences articulated a new primitivist sensibility between 1945 and 1975.
We tend to associate primitivism with the nostalgic idealization of origins, often aimed at parts of the world that are viewed as closer to that idealized past than modern post-industrial society. Primitivist impulses still exist in popular culture, whether in paleo diets or returns to foraging, and they can also be seen in intellectual and political circles in debates around the possibility of degrowth. In this book, historian Ryan L. Allen examines primitivism anew through four fascinating figures: Georges Bataille, Henri Lefebvre, Georges Devereux, and Mircea Eliade. In the postwar period, Allen shows, the French social sciences reappraised the primitive and archaic from anthropological, sociological, psychiatric, and religious angles. These four thinkers sought past alternatives to midcentury hypermodernization and capitalist excess. They put forth trenchant critiques of contemporary society and sought in the archaic past a way to imagine a more sustainable future. Adventures in the Archaic rehabilitates these thinkers, showing how their critique of growth and consumerism was nourished by an engagement with primitive cultures as potential sources of cultural and ecological wisdom. As we confront planetary crisis, Allen suggests, there is still much we can learn from these iconoclastic approaches.Author Biography
Ryan L. Allen is assistant instructional professor at the University of Chicago, where he teaches the history of social and political thought.
Number of Pages: 248
Dimensions: 0.69 x 9 x 6 IN
Illustrated: Yes
Publication Date: January 22, 2026
Details
This product is crafted with quality materials to ensure durability and performance. Designed with your convenience in mind, it seamlessly fits into your everyday life.
Shipping & Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.
We are committed to ensuring a positive shopping experience for all our customers. If for any reason you wish to return an item, we invite you to reach out to our team for assistance, and we will evaluate every return request with care and consideration.
Shop The Full Collection
