The Power of Intentions: Thinking about "Kewa Ethics"

Is there, among the Kewa of Papua New Guinea, a domain which corresponds to what western cultures call "ethics"? The key to comparative study is found in the Kewa notion of "kone" which may, according to the context, be translated as "will," "desire," "meaning," or "intention." The person, say the Kewa, has a hidden aspect, spoken of as "kone," the word for heart. "Kone" is manifested in a person's behavior and is the power by which people project themselves to influence the Kewa cosmos. It causes life to be weak or strong, poor or rich, beautiful or ugly. "Kone" operates through both practical and symbolic processes. Construing ethics as the operation of intentions or desires within a cosmic context enables us to reflect not only on "Kewa ethics" but also on how various cultures understand human behavior.