458 THE MIND OF PEIMITIVE MAN. 



civilization the traditional material is doubted and examined V)y only a 

 veiT few individuals, the number of thinkers Avho try to free them- 

 selves from the fetters of tradition increases as civilization advances. 



The influence of traditional material upon the life of man is not 

 restricted to his thoughts, but manifests itself no less in his activities. 

 The comparison between civilized man and primitive man in this 

 respect is even more instructive than in the preceding case. A com- 

 parison between the modes of life of different nations, and particular!}^ 

 of civilized man and of primitive man, makes it clear that an enormous 

 number of our actions are determined entirely by traditional associa- 

 tions. When we consider, for instance, the whole range of our daily 

 life, we notice how strictly Ave are dependent upon tradition that can 

 not be accounted for b}^ any logical reasoning. We eat our three 

 meals every day, and feel unhappy if we have to forego one of them. 

 There is no physiological reason which demands three meals a day, and 

 we find that many people are satisfied with two meals, while others 

 enjoy four or even more. The range of animals and plants which we 

 utilize for food is limited, and we have a decided aversion against eat- 

 ing dogs, or horses, or cats. There is certainly no objective reason 

 for such aversion, since a great man}'^ people consider dogs and horses 

 as dainties. When we consider fashions, the same becomes still more 

 apparent. To appear in the fashions of our forefathers of two cen- 

 turies ago would be entirely out of the question and would expose one 

 to ridicule. The same is true of table manners. To smack one's lips 

 is considered decidedly bad style, and may even excite feelings of dis- 

 gust, while among the Indians, for instance, it would be considered as 

 in exceedinglv bad taste not to smack one's lips when one is invited to 

 dinner, because it would suggest that the guest does not enjoy his 

 dinner. The whole range of actions that are considered as proper and 

 improper can not be explained b}^ any logical reason, but are almost 

 all entirely due to custom; that is to say, they are purely traditional. 

 This is even true of customs which excite strong emotions, as, for 

 instance, those produced by infractions of modest3\ 



While in the logical processes of the mind we find a decided tend- 

 ency, with the development of civilization, to eliminate traditional 

 elements, no such marked decrease in the force of traditional ele- 

 ments can be found in our activities. These are almost as much con- 

 trolled b}^ custom among ourselves as thej^ are among primitive man. 

 It is easily seen Avhy this should ])e the case. The mental processes 

 which enter into the development of judgments are based largely upon 

 associations with previous judgments. I j)ointed out before that this 

 process of association is the same among primitive men as among 

 civilized men, and that the difference consists largely in the modifi- 

 cation of the traditional material with which our new perceptions 

 amalgamate. In the case of activities, the conditions are somewhat 



