The Magical World. Introduction to the History of Magical Thinking

The book "The Magical World: An Introduction to the Theory of Magical Thinking" holds a prominent place among classic works of modern European thought — published in 1948, it has seen a significant number of reissues, reflecting the enduring interest in the author and his work. Before the reader is an innovative study of magical thinking in traditional societies, where the boundaries between one’s own "self" and the surrounding world are blurred. Based on the philosophy of the renowned German thinker of the 20th century Martin Heidegger, the author develops the theory of the "crisis of presence," according to which the unprotected consciousness of primitive man is on the brink of complete dissolution in the face of immeasurable and uncontrollable forces of nature. Drawing on the ethnographic works of colleagues, de Martino examines the religious worldviews and practices of the inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego in South America, the indigenous peoples of Greenland, the pygmies of equatorial Africa, and the Australian aborigines of the Arunta tribe: from initiation ceremonies into shamanism and the veneration of totem animals to predictions of successful hunting. It is precisely such practices that help traditional societies overcome the fear of the surrounding world and influence their way of life.