Abstract
Proponents of the ontological turn typically advance a highly conceptual understanding of variation in ontology. In contrast, this article argues theoretically that cultural canalizations of embodied ontogenetic processes — especially the development of local neurologies — underwrite distinct lived worlds. This theoretical argument for a corporeal basis of world-making draws on the case of vision-impaired individuals who actively echolocate, or perceive space using sound. Neurological evidence shows that echolocators’ sensory practices over developmental time produce specialized brain adaptations to behaviour. Human echolocation thus demonstrates how enculturation effaces the distinction between biology and culture in a behavioural-developmental spiral with implications for our understanding of human being.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 832-849 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 12 Sep 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2021 |