Evolutionist - exemplified by Edward Tylor (1832 - 1917)
Edward Tylor
Tylor
was a Quaker, with no formal university training, who traveled Mexico from 1855-56, began
publishing his theories in 1871. In 1896 became the first professor of new field of
anthropology at Oxford University. He asked two basic questions: What was the earliest
forms of religion, i.e., the origins religion and why are there other forms of
religion present, i.e., why is there diversity? Key points:
"Soul Theory," basis for the origin of all religions.
"Animism,"personify nature in order to explain it.
"Magic," defined as 1. a compulsive ritual - attempting to force spirits to do
bidding - commands, and 2. based upon "false association" - a mystical linkage
assumed. In contrast with "religion," which seeks to ask and petition God, given
human submissive to God, and "science," which knows correct nature of
associations based on rational and empirical knowledge.
Animism and Magic are the basis of the first stages of intellectual and societal
evolution. Set stages all societies "unilineal" evolve through:
"promiscuity," like primates in a wild state, with no family,
"savagery," nomadic, hunting and fishing, matriarchal society, magic and
animism,
"barbarism," patriarchal society, agricultural, sedentary village, pottery,
religion, priesthood, polytheism,
"civilization," urban, state, literacy, history, with "church" and
monotheistic religion but eventually replaced with "science"
Unilineal cultural evolution assumes a "psychic unity" of mankind, i.e., all
societies at all times united and thus pass through the same stages of evolution. The
"primitives" are simply "survivals" of past ages. Thus their
"primitive" differences are explained and why some feel they have the right to
conquer, exploit and missionize them is justified.
Problems:
Lack of actual field experience - data - and reliance on second-hand accounts, a sort of
"Arm chair" anthropology,
Data does not support theories, e.g., societies do not go through same stages.
The ethnocentric view that European-rational "civilization" is the basis and
criteria for judging the worth and value of other cultures.
Contributions:
While needing to be further developed, the concept of "psychic unity"
challenged the prevailing ethnocentric and racist ideas of "degeneration" and
innate disposition to account for cultural diversity, and paved way for the
"comparative method."
The first definition of "culture," as " a complex whole which
includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities
and habits acquired by man as a member of society," in 1871.