Introduction: Beyond the Limits of Modern Reason
Marshall Sahlins challenges modern anthropology, questioning the vision of culture as a purely human construct. In his analysis, he argues that for most of humanity, reality is an enchanted universe governed by metapersons—non-human beings endowed with will and agency. Understanding this perspective is crucial not only for academia but also for global business, as it exposes the limitations of our "disenchanted" rationality and reveals the hidden mechanisms of power legitimation and operational effectiveness.
Metapersons, Mana, and Cosmic Hierarchy
In immanent cultures, divinity is not separate from the world but constitutes its "administration." Sahlins presents a provocative thesis: there are no egalitarian societies. Even where human chiefs are absent, there exists a cosmopoliteia—a cosmic politics in which metapersons (ancestors, spirits) control resources and destiny. A key concept is mana—a personal agency "borrowed" by humans from higher beings. In this framework, success is not the result of technique alone, but proof of cosmic authorization.
Treating these realities as mere "beliefs" is a jurisdictional error and a tool of colonialism. Sahlins, following Pouillon, notes: only the non-believer believes that the believer believes. For participants in immanent cultures, the presence of metapersons is an empirical fact rooted in the effects of their actions, rather than a matter of subjective opinion. This radical ontological shift forces a revision of the Western dualism between nature and culture.
Human Finitude and Religion as Infrastructure
The foundation of Sahlins' thought is human finitude. Humans are not the authors of the conditions of their own existence—they do not create rain or fertility. Therefore, culture appears as a gift from metapersons, a license to act that must be renewed through ritual. In this context, religion as infrastructure ceases to be a metaphor. It is a hard condition for effectiveness, acting like a "central bank of being" that issues permits for agency.
This mechanism is driven by the inner person, or soul, which serves as the engine of subjectivity not only in humans but also in elements of nature. Such relational ontology finds surprising applications in business today. The modern equivalent of mana is the Social License to Operate (SLO). Corporations increasingly understand that legal compliance is not enough—they need "recognition" from local communities and their value systems for their projects to truly function.
Naturalism vs. Pluralism: New Global Challenges
Contemporary debate oscillates between naturalism (one nature, many cultures) and ontological pluralism (a multiplicity of worlds). Global business is internalizing these concepts to manage reputational risk. Companies are learning that where they see an "asset," others see a "person." Ignoring these differences leads to costly conflicts. However, the solution is not naive sacralization, but the institutional recognition of the metapersons of modernity—systemic entities such as markets, ratings, or algorithms that distribute effectiveness as ruthlessly as ancient deities.
Summary: The Illusion of Disenchantment
Marshall Sahlins argues that Weber’s disenchantment of the world is an illusion. Modernity has not eliminated dependence on higher powers; it has merely changed their names to technical and impersonal ones. Our institutions and procedures represent the persistence of the sacred in a new guise. By rejecting immanence, have we truly freed ourselves from debt, or have we merely changed the recipient? The true maturity of modern reason begins with recognizing its own "magical" forms and finding the courage to conduct diplomacy in a multipolar, enchanted universe.
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