This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
Published on June 26, 2020, by Philip Ochieng, a veteran journalist.
Anthropologists define primitiveness as a society's level of technique and the number of ideas it can express. This categorization is not a moral judgment, but rather a description of a society's complexity.
Despite the noble savage theory being debunked, many historians of ideas argue that the more civilized a society becomes, the deeper it sinks into moral filth. This is evident in the United States, which is history's most civilized society in terms of skills, yet also has one of the highest crime rates.
The term 'primitive' is often misunderstood as implying immorality, inconsiderateness, or ruthlessness. However, in the context of anthropology, 'primitive' refers only to the simplicity of a society's techniques for meeting its collective bio-mental requirements.
Kenya, for instance, is not primitive compared to the US or South Korea, despite importing many products from these countries. This highlights the misconception that primitiveness is equivalent to backwardness.
The etymology of the word 'primitive' reveals its connection to the word 'primary,' which refers to the first stages of development in biological, mental, and social systems. This understanding sheds light on the true meaning of primitiveness.
Things are primitive because they are first or primary, such as the primordial activities that characterized mankind's early stages. The term 'primeval' refers to something from the earliest age, while 'medieval' describes the age between antiquity and today in European history.
Ultimately, primitiveness is about simplicity, firstness, and the moment of creation. It is not a moral judgment, but rather a description of a society's level of technique and complexity.
