2009/02/10 by Richard Basham · 4 citations
Social Sciences · #Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies #Cambodian History and Society #Anthropological Studies and Insights #Skepticism #Power (physics) #Literal (mathematical logic) #Consciousness #Position (finance) #Common sense #Persona #Epistemology #Rationality #Sociology #Positive economics #Political science #Philosophy #Humanities #Linguistics #Economics
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1835-9310.1989.tb00101.x
published in The Australian Journal of Anthropology 19(2), 126-137 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2009/02/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The idea that those with wealth and power in Thailand are believed by their compatriots to owe their position to accumulated merit (bun) recurs in the anthropological literature. This paper argues that these notions are not held in any literal sense, but are qualified by pragmatic and rational considerations, and are countered by common scepticism concerning the personas adopted by those of prominence.