Magic Science And Religion

Not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. In his handling of science magic and religion Malinowski essentially accepted the traditional Western conception of a dual reality-the reality of the natural world grounded in observation and rational procedures that lead to mastery and supernatural reality grounded in emotional needs that give rise to faith. Unlike Frazer for example Malinowski derived science not from magic but from mans capacity to organize knowledge as demonstrated by Trobriand technical skills in gardening shipbuilding etc. In contrast he treated magic which coexisted with these skills as an organized response to a sense of limitation and impotence in the face of danger difficulty and frustration. Again he differentiated between magic and religion in defining magical systems as essentially pragmatic in their aims and religious systems as self-fulfilling rituals organized for example around life crises.