Sensuality and Consciousness V: Emergence of the "Savage Savage" The Study of Child Behavior and Human Development in Cultural Isolates

This paper describes a type of consciousness characteristic of a preconquest era, which survives today only in isolated enclaves. This consciousness focuses liminally on direct sensory experience, producing a continuous, non-discrete cognition that cannot be managed by syntax and logic. It generates a way of life that is simultaneously individualistic and collective, and a spontaneous group rapport alien to modern beings. The authors argue that this type of consciousness collapses when seized by hostile or domineering cultures. They pose questions about the reconcilability of truth across eras and whether today's type of consciousness reflects a positive or negative turning in mental evolution. The paper also addresses the contradictory accounts of "untouched" peoples by early explorers versus their conquerors.

Study at a glance

Abstract

As was seen in paper IV of this series (Anthropology of Consciousness 7[4]: 9‐30), basic consciousness can differ strikingly across eras. The type detailed there belongs to a preconquest era that survives today only in isolated enclaves that have not yet been absorbed within the thrall of conquering cultures. There are very few still left. Significantly they are widely distributed across the world.The type of consciousness peculiar to that era focuses liminaly, not supraliminally (as is the norm today). It spawns mental capabilities, and a sense‐of‐truth, very different from our modern type. It generates a way‐of‐life that is simultaneously individualistic and collective—qualities immiscible in modern thought and languages. Their fusion in that earlier era is one of many indications of the profoundness of the mental gulf separating that era from our current one. This premodern type also spawns a spontaneous group rapport so alien to our 20th century that modern beings scarcely can perceive it, much less appreciate it. When seized by hostile or domineering cultures, this preconquest type of consciousness collapses.The type of consciousness typical to that era focuses on direct sensory experience. Therefore cognition is not divided into clearly separable units. Experience being continuous, not discrete, cannot therefore be managed by syntax and logic, as in modern thought. The dialectic type of inquiry underlying our modern sense‐of‐truth is but a ship passing in the deepest darkness of the distant night to such mentality. Just as invisibly their sense‐of‐truth evades Western sensibility. Such differences pose questions not only regarding the reconcilability of truth across eras but about mental evolution too. For as yet there is no way to know whether today's type of consciousness reflects a positive or negative turning in the evolution of mentality.The way‐of‐life of this earlier era coheres with accounts of "untouched" peoples made by early explorers and philosophers who admired the considerate and peaceful ways of the "Noble Savage." They speak of "generosity," "loyalty," and truthfulness." How then is it that their conquerors spoke of "bestiality," "treacherousness," and "deceit"? That question will be dealt with here.