Anathem

Anathem is a science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson, published in 2008. The term "anathem" within the novel refers to a profound and powerful declaration of exile from a mathematical and philosophical community known as the Concent. More generally, within the context of the book's world (Arbre), an anathem is a revocation of the privileges and protections afforded to avout (those who reside within the Concent) and its attendant implications of social and philosophical exclusion.

The anathem is not simply a banishment, but a severing of ties. An individual undergoing anathem is forced to leave the Concent and prohibited from re-entering or interacting with the avout within. This carries significant weight as the avout, through their rigorous and disciplined life, are the primary keepers of knowledge and understanding in Arbre. Being anathematized essentially cuts an individual off from that font of knowledge and their established intellectual community.

The reasons for anathem can vary, ranging from severe breaches of the Concent's rules or ethical violations to, in extreme cases, situations where an individual's ideas or actions are deemed a fundamental threat to the Concent’s principles or stability. The decision to anathematize someone is a serious matter, typically involving significant deliberation and consideration within the Concent's governance structures.

Beyond the specific context of the novel, the term has gained some currency within science fiction and philosophical circles as shorthand for a profound rejection or ostracization based on ideological or intellectual differences.