Asad’s account of tradition adds power and embodied capacities that MacIntyre omits

Evidence

Despite important overlaps, there are two critical differences, as I see it, between Macintyre’s notion of tradition and that of Talal Asad. One, Asad places an emphasis on relations of power that are necessary both for the propagation of a tradition in relation to other discursive traditions and to the process by which certain practices and arguments become hegemonic within a tradi. tion. In Macintyre’s theory of tradition, there is no discussion of power. Asad also differs from Macintyre in that he emphasizes the role embodied capacities (in addition to rational argumen.. tation) play in the reproduction of a tradition. — Saba Mahmood, Politics of Piety, 815

Categorization

• DEFINE: Sharply distinguishes Asad from MacIntyre on two axes: power relations and embodiment as conditions of tradition.