ABSTRACT
Enlightenment philosophy perceived man as a rational human being who engages in economic activities for his own profit, but also for the common good. This idea of a ‘homo oeconomicus’ found broad support as it helped to legitimise upcoming social transformation, industrialisation and colonisation. However it also provoked economic anthropology to seek for alternatives, to prove their existence through ethnographic fieldwork and to reflect upon their cultural values and conditions. Starting from 19th century’s evolutionist thought this development has eventually targeted the global centres of capitalism.
