GIFT AND EXCHANGE: BETWEEN ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIAL THEORY, AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF RECOGNITION
Abstract
The article explores the phenomenon of the gift as a key mechanism of social, economic, and cultural interactions in society. The author examines how the concept of the gift is formed within cultural anthropology, subsequently influencing sociology and philosophy. Drawing on the classical works of Mauss, Malinowski, and Lévi-Strauss, the article shows how the foundations for understanding the gift were laid, analyzing their critiques and followers. Special attention is given to the Kula and Potlatch rituals, which demonstrate the social function of the gift in establishing hierarchy, mutual respect, and authority; the concept of the "spirit of the gift" (hau), obligations of reciprocity, and the moral dimension of exchange inherent in these rituals are analyzed. The study shows that the significance of the gift goes beyond economic transactions, representing an alternative form of exchange that includes symbolic and spiritual values, as it shapes systems of authority, social ties, community stability, and political and ethical practices. The article also analyzes how the topic of the gift, introduced by cultural anthropology, is reflected in sociology. Contemporary interpretations of the gift by Liebersohn, Pyyhtinen, Sansi, and Eisenstein are also examined.
A particular focus is placed on Marcel Hénaff’s systematization of perspectives on the gift, in which he integrates various anthropological, sociological, and philosophical approaches. Hénaff’s analysis emphasizes that the primary social consequence of the gift is recognition of another person, mutual affirmation of their dignity and status, making the gift a key category for analyzing social reciprocity, moral order, and cultural solidarity. The political and symbolic dimensions of the gift, its role in shaping social structures, public relations, and cultural practices are considered. The author demonstrates that the gift is a complex social act that combines moral obligation, symbolic communication, and mutual recognition, forming the foundation of social ties and providing an alternative to the utilitarian logic of the market.
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References
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