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Living in society

In folk cultures, it is believed that balance must be achieved for individuals, societies and the natural environment to flourish. Moderation in all things – ethical, religious, ecological, medical – is important in private and public life. The "middle way" is therefore an ambiguous idea. It guarantees social order but also functions as a system of checks and balances against misuse of power.

Dying well

Death cannot be reduced to a biological disappearance. It involves a complex chain of events which transforms the social body. Each culture interprets death in its own way. Rituals and symbols reflect its organisation, religious beliefs and scientific knowledge. Until the nineteenth century, peasant communities were familiar with death. This proximity was long regarded in academic circles as a sign of weakness and resignation, whereas in fact it was a way of coping with personal destiny without endangering the community.