Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

German Animismus, from [[Latin]] anima [[soul]]

German Animismus, from [[Latin]] anima [[soul]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1832]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1832]

The term '''animism''' appears to have been first [[developed]] as animismus by the German scientist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Ernst_Stahl Georg Ernst Stahl] circa 1720, to refer to the "[[doctrine]] that [[animal]] life is produced by an immaterial [[soul]]". The [[actual]] [[English]] language form of animism however can only be attested to 1819. The term was taken and redefined by the anthropologist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Burnett_Tylor Sir Edward Tylor] in his 1871 [[book]] ''Primitive Culture'', in which he defined it as being "the [[theory]] of the [[universal]] animation of [[nature]]".

The term '''animism''' appears to have been first [[developed]] as animismus by the German scientist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Ernst_Stahl Georg Ernst Stahl] circa 1720, to refer to the "[[doctrine]] that [[animal]] life is produced by an immaterial [[soul]]". The [[actual]] [[English]] language form of animism however can only be attested to 1819. The term was taken and redefined by the anthropologist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Burnett_Tylor Sir Edward Tylor] in his 1871 [[book]] ''Primitive Culture'', in which he defined it as being "the [[theory]] of the [[universal]] animation of [[nature]]".

Under Tylor's definition therefore, animists viewed the natural world as being innately alive. Being a self-described "confirmed scientific [[rationalist]]", he himself however believed that such a view was "childish" and typical of "[[cognitive]] underdevelopment", and that it was therefore common in "primitive" peoples such as those living in [[hunter]] gatherer [[societies]].

Under Tylor's definition therefore, animists viewed the natural world as being innately alive. Being a self-described "confirmed scientific [[rationalist]]", he himself however believed that such a view was "childish" and typical of "[[cognitive]] underdevelopment", and that it was therefore common in "primitive" peoples such as those living in [[hunter]] gatherer [[societies]].

Tylor's definition has largely been followed by anthropologists since, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Durkheim Émile Durkheim], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_L%C3%A9vi-Strauss Claude Lévi-Strauss] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ingold Tim Ingold]. However some [[anthropologists]], such as Nurit Bird-Davis have criticised the Tylorian concept of animism, believing it to be outdated.

Tylor's definition has largely been followed by anthropologists since, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Durkheim Émile Durkheim], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_L%C3%A9vi-Strauss Claude Lévi-Strauss] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ingold Tim Ingold]. However some [[anthropologists]], such as Nurit Bird-Davis have criticised the Tylorian concept of animism, believing it to be outdated.

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a doctrine that the vital principle of organic development is immaterial spirit

*1: a doctrine that the vital principle of organic development is immaterial spirit

*3: belief in the existence of spirits separable from bodies  

*3: belief in the existence of spirits separable from bodies  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Animism''' (from Latin anima "[[soul]], life") is a [[philosophical]], [[religious]] or spiritual [[idea]] that souls or spirits exist not only in [[humans]] but also in [[animals]], [[plants]], rocks, [[natural]] [[phenomena]] such as thunder, geographic features such as [[mountains]] or [[rivers]], or other [[entities]] of the [[natural]] [[environment]]. Animism may further attribute souls to [[abstract]] [[concepts]] such as [[words]], true [[names]] or [[metaphors]] in [[mythology]]. Animism is particularly widely found in the religions of [[indigenous]] peoples, although it is also found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto Shinto], and some forms of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism Pantheism] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism Neopaganism].

'''Animism''' (from Latin anima "[[soul]], life") is a [[philosophical]], [[religious]] or spiritual [[idea]] that souls or spirits exist not only in [[humans]] but also in [[animals]], [[plants]], rocks, [[natural]] [[phenomena]] such as thunder, geographic features such as [[mountains]] or [[rivers]], or other [[entities]] of the [[natural]] [[environment]]. Animism may further attribute souls to [[abstract]] [[concepts]] such as [[words]], true [[names]] or [[metaphors]] in [[mythology]]. Animism is particularly widely found in the religions of [[indigenous]] peoples, although it is also found in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto Shinto], and some forms of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism Pantheism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism Neopaganism].

Throughout European history, philosophers such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] and [[Thomas Aquinas]], among others, contemplated the [[possibility]] that [[souls]] exist in animals, plants and people, however the currently accepted definition of animism was only developed in the 19th century by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Edward_Tylor Sir Edward Tylor], who created it as "one of [[anthropology]]'s earliest concepts, if not the first".

Throughout European history, philosophers such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] and [[Thomas Aquinas]], among others, contemplated the [[possibility]] that [[souls]] exist in animals, plants and people, however the currently accepted definition of animism was only developed in the 19th century by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Edward_Tylor Sir Edward Tylor], who created it as "one of [[anthropology]]'s earliest concepts, if not the first".

Whilst having similarities to [[totemism]], animism differs in that it, according to the [[anthropologist]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ingold Tim Ingold], [[focuses]] on [[individual]] spirit beings which help to perpetuate life, whilst [[totemism]] more typically holds that there is a primary [[source]], such as the [[land]] itself, or the [[ancestors]], who provide the basis to life. Certain [[indigenous]] religious groups, such as that of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aborigines Australian Aborigines] are more typically totemic, whilst others, like the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit Inuit] are more typically animistic in their [[worldview]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism]

Whilst having similarities to [[totemism]], animism differs in that it, according to the [[anthropologist]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ingold Tim Ingold], [[focuses]] on [[individual]] spirit beings which help to perpetuate life, whilst [[totemism]] more typically holds that there is a primary [[source]], such as the [[land]] itself, or the [[ancestors]], who provide the basis to life. Certain [[indigenous]] religious groups, such as that of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aborigines Australian Aborigines] are more typically totemic, whilst others, like the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit Inuit] are more typically animistic in their [[worldview]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]