Eduardo Viveiros de Castro e Roger Ames: a orquestração de um triálogo multinaturalista

Eduardo Viveiros de Castro and Roger Ames: the orchestration of a multinaturalist trialogue

Abstract

The anthropological perspectivist discourse in Brazil is led by the controversial theses of anthropologist Eduardo Viveiros de Castro on Amerindian multinaturalism, which postulates a “variable nature (or ontology)” and a “constant epistemology.” According to this view, we observe the focus on relationship over the substance and the poles of the relationship. Equally controversial and influential, this time in the synological academic environment, is the proposal by Roger Ames and his collaborators on Chinese “relational thinking”. Both authors rely on philosophy in the development of their work, and their conclusions have had profound consequences for the suggestion of a comparative philosophy that escapes the antinomic relativism of the West/East or
civilization/native pairs, thus engaging in a fruitful trialogue.

Keywords: Comparative philosophy, perspectivist anthropology, philosophical sinology, Roger Ames, Eduardo Viveiros de Castro