The Origin of Man and of His SuperstitionsRead, Carveth
Philosophy
The Origin of Man and of His Superstitions
Read, Carveth
Animism; Human beings -- Origin; Magic; Superstition; Totemism
(3) Troops or herds, comprising several families. This type is common
amongst monkeys: generally the families are monogamous, and both
parents care for the offspring; they have leaders, and combine in
mutual defence. This is especially effective with the baboons—who,
however, are polygamous. A very similar type is characteristic of
cattle; who also have leaders as the result of battle between the
bulls, each trying to control and keep together as many cows as he can;
and they often combine their forces against beasts of prey.
(4) Hunting-packs—most noticeable with wolves and wild dogs: they
have leaders, and probably an order of precedence determined by
battle. In the breeding-season (February to August) a pack of wolves
breaks up into pairs; but whether their pairing is for life or merely
seasonal is disputed; and it is also doubtful whether the male takes
any share in caring for the puppies; such habits may vary in different
localities.[32] The numbers of the pack depend on circumstances, and
are now much smaller in Canada than in Russia.
Was our own primitive society, then, like any of these? Since direct
evidence cannot be obtained, we must be guided in forming our
hypothesis by two considerations: (_a_) what type of society gives
the best explanation of human nature as we now find it? and (_b_) for
which type can we give the best reason why it should have been adopted?
So I point out (_a_) that man, in character, is more like a wolf or
dog than he is like any other animal; and (_b_) that for the forming
of a pack there was a clear ground in the advantage to be obtained by
co-operative hunting.[33]
It must be admitted that Darwin, discussing sexual selection in man,
suggests a different hypothesis. He says: “Looking far enough back in
the stream of time, and judging from the social habits of man as he now
exists, the most probable view is that he aboriginally lived in small
communities, each with a single wife, or if powerful with several, whom
he jealously guarded against all other men. Or he may not have been a
social animal, and yet have lived with several wives, like the gorilla;
for all the natives ‘agree that but one adult male is seen in a band;
when the young male grows up, a contest takes place for mastery, and
the strongest, by killing and driving out the others, establishes
himself as the head of the community.’ The younger males, being thus
expelled and wandering about, would, when at last successful in finding
a partner, prevent too close inter-breeding within the limits of the
same family.”[34] The information concerning the polygamy of the
gorilla, quoted here from Dr. Savage, who wrote in 1845, has not since
(I believe) been confirmed, except by Prof. Garner.[35]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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