The Anthropological Position

The anthropological creed might, broadly, be stated as
follows, with, of course, small divergences caused by internal
division :

(i) The savage and irrational element in * civilized* myth
is composed of primitive survivals in more civilized times.
(2) The comparison of civilized with savage myth — that is,
of later with earlier myth — frequently throws light upon the
character of the latter.
(3) The comparison of similar myths among widely divergent

1 Modern Mythology^ pp. 55, 63.
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PROGRESS OF MYTHIC SCIENCE

peoples frequently illuminates their primitive character and
meaning.
Broadly speaking, too, the anthropological school accepts
such views as have been laid down in the introductory chapter
concerning animism, fetishism, and totemism ; and when we
come to deal with authorities who diverge in any way from
these views we shall show how they differ.
Sir E. B. Tylor

Sir E. B. Tylor, the virtual founder of the anthropological
school, in his Researches into the Early History of Mankind
(1865) and Primitive Culture (1871), first laid down the
anthropological position with clearness and accuracy.
In a statement which appeared in his epoch-making work,
Primitive Culture^ Tylor briefly reviews the conceptions of the
early commentators regarding myth, and shows how necessary
breadth of knowledge and handling is for mythological work.
