{"product_id":"9781041374176","title":"Economy of Life A Theory of Sacrifice","description":"\u003ch1\u003eEconomy of Life\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eA Theory of Sacrifice\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eJack David Eller\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eSocial Science \/ Anthropology \/ Cultural \u0026amp; Social\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Economy of Life\u003c\/i\u003e offers a groundbreaking examination of sacrificial traditions across cultures and history, suggesting that the purpose of sacrificial acts is not destruction but creation, not death but life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSacrifice is a topic that has fascinated and perplexed scholars since the birth of modern social sciences. Many famous scholars have theorized it—as a communal meal, a gift to the gods, an exercise in patriarchy, and more—almost always focusing on the violence of the act, as in Girard’s influential theory of mimetic desire and scapegoating violence. However, historical and ethnographic studies increasingly inform that sacrifice is not always violent and often does not involve killing at all. \u003ci\u003eThe Economy of Life\u003c\/i\u003e proposes a new theory grounded on the cross‑cultural and transhistorical evidence; the underlying ontology is a circulatory cosmos in which life‑force can be detached from one entity by its death or destruction and invested in another entity. This book describes and critiques prior theories, especially Girard’s, explicates the new theory, and provides supporting evidence from across the world’s sacrificial traditions, finally pondering the implications of the new theory for subjects beyond sacrifice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Economy of Life\u003c\/i\u003e is intended for scholars and students of religion, anthropology, and history, as well as those who want to learn about the diversity yet continuity of the world’s sacrificial systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJack David Eller\u003c\/b\u003e is a Senior Fellow with the British Institute for Ignorance Studies, Birmingham, UK and most recently Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India. His areas of specialization include religion, violence, psychological anthropology, and contemporary culture. He is the author or editor of many books and volumes on anthropology and the series editor for Routledge’s \u003ci\u003eAnthropology of Now\u003c\/i\u003e series.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 December 2026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTaylor \u0026amp; Francis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoutledge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781041374176\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e282\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Taylor \u0026 Francis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63534059618444,"sku":"9781041374176","price":54.89,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9781041374176","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}