Thinking Ambiguity: An Anthropological Perspective

This contribution examines the anthropological concept of ambiguity through the foundational work of Arnold Van Gennep and Victor Turner on liminality, originally applied to traditional societies and ritual contexts. Liminality, derived from the Latin limes meaning threshold, refers to a state of being betwixt and between social roles, spaces, and times, characterized by ambiguity and transformation. Van Gennep’s tripartite model of rites of passage—separation, liminal phase, and incorporation—is illustrated with ethnographic examples, while Turner’s contributions highlight the dynamic and transformative nature of the liminal phase as a condition of social possibility and change. Extending beyond the ritual sphere, Mary Douglas successfully relocated the concept of liminality into the everyday life of Western societies. She linked ambiguity to notions of purity and pollution, emphasizing how phenomena that defy clear categorization—represented metaphorically by the viscous, neither liquid nor solid—challenge social order and create discomfort. This contribution thus situates liminality not only as a key concept for understanding social transitions in traditional rituals but also as a powerful analytical tool for exploring ambiguity and social boundaries in contemporary life.