{"product_id":"the-anthropology-of-ambiguity-paperback","title":"The Anthropology of Ambiguity - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMahnaz Alimardanian\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor), \u003cb\u003eTimothy Heffernan\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis volume puts ambiguity and its generative power at the centre of analytical attention. Rather than being cast negatively as a source of confusion, bewilderment or as a dangerous portent, ambiguity is held as the source of the dynamic between knowledge and experience and of certainty amid uncertainty. It positions human life between the realms of mystery and mastery where ambiguity is understood as the experience and expression of life and part of navigating the human condition. In turn, the tension between the tradition in anthropology of examining cultural certitudes through ethnographic description and efforts to challenge dominant expressions of incertitude are explored. Each chapter presents ethnographic accounts of how people engage individually and collectively with the self, the other, human-made institutions and the more-than-human to navigate ambiguity in a world affected by viral contagion, climate change, economic instability, labour precarity and (geo)political tension.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'In unsettling times such as these, \u003ci\u003eThe anthropology of ambiguity\u003c\/i\u003e provides a critical resource for thinking through the ambient flux of ambiguous experiences that increasingly constitute our contemporary condition.'\u003cbr\u003e C. Jason Throop, Professor and Chair, University of California, Los Angeles \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'Narrated through captivating ethnography and thought-provoking analyses, this volume brilliantly showcases nuanced ways in which reading ambiguity can help us understand the crises of our times.'\u003cbr\u003e Yasmine Musharbash, Associate Professor, Australian National University \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAmbiguity has long captivated scholars concerned with knowledge and its production. From the classical fields of mathematics, philosophy and logic to the natural, behavioural and social sciences, each grappled with it as a puzzle to solve or a tool to wield. But what if ambiguity is not a problem to be solved, but rather a fundamental aspect of human existence? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this ambitious collection, ambiguity takes centre stage as a lens through which to explore the depths of what it means to be human. Spanning thirteen ethnographic contexts, the book delves into the rich tapestry of ambiguity's manifestations, from moments of crisis to the complexities of everyday life. Through vivid case studies encompassing natural disasters, political unrest, public health challenges, and personal identity, ambiguity emerges as a dynamic force, driving innovation and shaping collective meaning-making. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDrawing on existentialist philosophy and the insights of sociocultural anthropology, particularly the legacy of The Manchester School and the philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir, this volume offers a fresh perspective on \u003ci\u003esitting and being with\u003c\/i\u003e ambiguity. Focusing on ambiguity's power as a constituent force of openness, timelessness and plasticity, the book celebrates ambiguity as a conduit for social analysis and for doing and writing anthropology.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMahnaz Alimardanian is Research Fellow at The Mabo Centre, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne, and the founder and lead researcher at PiiR Consulting \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTimothy Heffernan is Lecturer in Anthropology at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 264\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.55 x 9.21 x 6.14 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 20, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53329620861235,"sku":"9781526195777","price":83.86,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/v9ZdPcw8AV9781526195777.webp?v=1778171466","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/en-ca\/products\/the-anthropology-of-ambiguity-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}