Why did Frazer not do fieldwork?

Abstract

Probably the most famous story about the armchair anthropologist Sir James Frazer is about how, when asked by William James about doing fieldwork, he said, “But Heavens forbid!” I propose that it was rational for Frazer to avoid fieldwork given his theory of what is rational for so-called savages: to kill returning tribesmen and visitors, to protect against disease.

Author's Profile

Terence Rajivan Edward
University of Manchester (PhD)

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2022-12-05

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