Primitive Man as Philosopher

by Paul Radin, John Dewey (Foreword), Neni Panourgia (Preface)

Anthropology is a science whose most significant discoveries have come when it has taken its bearings from literature, and what makes Paul Radin’s Primitive   Man as Philosopher a seminal piece of anthropological inquiry is that it is also a book of enduring wonder. Writing in the 1920s, when anthropology was still young, Radin set out to show that “primitive” cultures are as intellectually sophisticated and venturesome as any of their “civilized” counterparts. The basic questions about the structure of the natural world, the nature of right and wrong, and the meaning of life and death, as well as basic methods of considering the truth or falsehood of the answers those questions give rise to, are, Radin argues, recognizably consistent across the whole range of human societies. He rejects both the romantic myth of the noble savage and the rationalist dismissal of the primitive mind as essentially undeveloped, averring that the anthropologist and the anthropologist’s subject meet on the same philosophical ground, and only when that is acknowledged can anthropology begin in earnest. The argument is clearly and forcibly made in pages that also contain an extraordinary collection of poems, proverbs, myths, and tales from a host of different cultures, making Primitive Man as Philosopher not only a lasting contribution to the discipline of anthropology but a unique, rich, and fascinating anthology, one that both illuminates and enlarges our imagination of the human.

Genres: Philosophy, Anthropology, History, Nonfiction, Religion, Folklore, Theory

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1927

About the author

He was an American cultural anthropologist and folklorist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Radin

Reviews

[Peter Crofts · Rating 3 out of 5]

A problematic text. Makes all kinds of sweeping generalizations about the modern western worldview and "primitive" cultures. It continually purports to prove various generalizations by reliance on a handful of translated sources from around the globe. I found as I read further in it was less and less convincing, even though some of the arguments are ones I am very partial to. There seems to be more than a bit of axe grinding going on as well, though about precisely what I'm not sure. I find it surprising that this is the work, albeit a relatively early work, of a noted anthropologist.

Perhaps some of the axe grinding is directed towards Social Darwinism since the book was first published in the 1920s. I don't think these days many would argue with the view that neolithic cultures are complicated and possess sophisticated worldviews. I find most any anthropological text I come across completely riveting. This isn't. It's actually rather dull.

[James Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book from the 1920s, at the beginnings of anthropology, Paul Radin set out to show that the thought of primitive man is as intellectually sophisticated as that of modern, technologically advanced cultures. Their concerns are the same, I think: the structure of nature, the meaning of life and death, and the meaning of right versus the nature of evil. But primitive explanations are unrefined by comparison. He's right that the 2 groups think alike. It's just that the technologically advanced thought is more cultivated.

I didn't love this. One hundred year old social science is bound to show signs of wear. The book is a valuable and engaging source for examples of folklore across many different cultures.

[Rajiv Chopra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A century is a long passage of time in human terms. Many attitudes change in a century, yet nothing changes at all. In our age of political correctness, we would admonish Paul Radin for using the term ‘primitive man,’ even though it was common in his time. Yet, anyone reading about modern conflicts and how we treat others who differ from us – we ‘other’ them- often use derogatory language when referring to them. Nothing has changed since Paul Radin’s time except the language.
Therefore, I suggest we read Paul Radin’s book through modern eyes, always remembering that those we consider backward have their cultures, philosophy, poems, writing, religious attitudes, etc.
Paul Radin’s book portrays ‘primitive man’ sympathetically and illustrates his thesis systematically. After a few expository pages, he adopts one theme per chapter and illustrates his point with poems, hymns, and tales. ‘Primitive societies’ are astute and have deep connections with nature, a connection modern society has lost. He explored several themes in the book: the relationship of people in these societies with each other, with concepts like death, relationships, religion, nature, etc.
In doing so, he reveals the astonishing sophistication
Many will consider his writing dry and hard to read, but if you persist and read the book patiently, it will reward you and hopefully open your eyes to new perspectives.

[Angel 🦢]

DNF