Marcel Mauss

Marcel Mauss (May 10, 1872- February 10, 1950) was a French sociologist best known for his role in elaborating on and securing the legacy of his uncle, Émile Durkheim and the Annee Sociologique. His most famous work is The Gift, on reciprocity and gift economies among "uncivilized peoples".

Legacy

While Mauss is known for several of his own works - most notably his masterpiece Essai sur le Don ('the Gift') - much of his best work was done in colloboration with members of the Annee Sociologique, whether it be Durkheim himself (Primitive Classification), Henri Hubert (Outline of a General Theory of Magic and Essay on the Nature and Function of Sacrifice), Paul Fauconnet (Sociology) or others.

Related Topics:
The Gift - Annee Sociologique - Durkheim - Henri Hubert - Paul Fauconnet

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Like many prominent French academics, Mauss did not train a great number of students. Nonetheless, many anthropologists claim to have followed in his footsteps, most notablly Claude Lévi-Strauss. The essay on The Gift is the origin for anthropological studies of reciprocity. His analysis of the Potlatch has been used by many interested in gift economies and Open Source software, although this latter use sometimes differs from Mauss's original formulation.

Related Topics:
Claude Lévi-Strauss - Reciprocity - Potlatch - Gift economies - Open Source

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