Marshal Sahlins and The Original Affluent Society
In the essay The Original Affluent Society (first published in 1968), Marshal Sahlins argues that traditional ideas about hunter-gatherers are wrong and that hunter-gatherers were actually the original affluent society, even though they lack material wealth. Eleven years later, Richard Lee published the book, The Dobe Ju/’hoansi.
Does Richard Lee’s book support Sahlins’ claims that:
(1)Traditional ideas about hunter-gatherers are incorrect;
– What specifically are the traditional ideas about hunter-gatherers and what were Sahlins’ criticisms of those ideas?
– Does The Dobe Ju/’hoansi support Salhins?
(2)Hunter-gatherers were actually the original affluent society.
– Does The Dobe Ju/’hoansi support Salhins’ claims about hunter-gatherers, in regard to workload, leisure time, nutrition, health, and abundance?
– Were the Dobe ! Ju/’hoansi affluent?
