Manimism: Worrying About the Relationship Between Rationality and Animism

This paper seeks to articulate a series of worries surrounding the seeming convergence recent critical work on animism with contemporary calls decolonise thought. Sometimes referred as 'new animism', these approaches valuably question traditional and mainstream notions Western rationality, perform important reforms formerly dominant anthropological epistemological perspectives, open up questions concerning pervasiveness something like within Western/ modern thought culture. On one hand, effects may be seen complementing decolonising imperative. other they also risk contributing processes less fundamental reform, whereby certain elements 'European paradigm modernity/ rationality' (Anibal Quijano) are allowed remain intact. Prominent among elements, following Sylvia Wynter, is constructed figure 'Man' around which colonial modernity has built extended itself. In order pursue worries, explores key characteristics what considered, according terms it itself established, animist character aspects modernity/rationality. It argued that widespread acceptance reality validity culturally specific Man representative all humans, dependent form animistic investment part European 'Manimism'. Worrying/being worried about Manimism does not necessitate abandonment so-called new-animist work, but worthwhile complement it, especially in light historical capacity survive major socio-political challenges upheavals.