Malinowski's Magic: The Riddle of the Empty Cell [and Comments and Reply]

The author uses the technique of substruction in order to explicate the conceptualizations about magic, science, and religion which, over more than 50 years, have been brought forward by anthropologists like Malinowski, Nadel, and Goody. The outcome is several typologies which encompass also the important linguistic notion of performative acts originated by J. L. Austin. By means of these typologies it is possible to relate to each other in a logically coherent manner four types of symbol systems (science, ideology, religion, and mythology), four corresponding types of standardized activities (work, ceremonies, rites, and magical acts), and the systems of rules governing these standardized activities (techniques, ceremonial, ritual, and magic). It is suggested that, when distinguishing between the various types, substantive distinctions may be appropriate at the level of symbol systems, functional ones at the level of activities. By confronting various typologies with each other, three different perspectives on the phenomenon of magic are recognized: that of the understanding social actor, that of the outside observer, and that of the understanding observer. Finally, some modern functional alternatives to magic are identified and discussed.