PRIMITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18050, 25 September 1920, Page 6

PRIMITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

THE MEAOTSPG OF "MANA."

Tho concluding lecture in the University course in anthropology was delivered by Professor Dunlop in the Museum lesture room last night. Prior to tho address Mr H. D. Skinner exhibited to the class sonic Easter Island figures recently received by -the Museum from Home. This group of four figures, ho said, would be probably fcho most vnJnablo exhibit in the ethnographic part of th© Museum. One, in particular, ho declared to be as fine a specimen of this remarkable work as was to be found in any mvtsemn in the world. Professor Dunlop began by discussing the conception of "mana" among the South Sea Island peoples, and quoted Bishop Codrin"ton's description of itis moaning. Certain objects were supposed to possess mysterious supernatural power, and similar power resided in certain charms of words. Tliis power always had a personal element and was related to som© person. Similar' conceptions could be traced among the North American Indians and other primitive peoples. He roadt several extracts explanatory of animism and th© conception of the soul prevalent in certain parts of Africa. All this, he said, raised, several interesting problems. For instance, was tihe religionof primitive man after all animistic, or in the conception of mana, and similar ideas wore we at the root of a preanimistio religion? He himself fouod a priori difficulty m believing- that primitive man was capable of such an abstract conception as impersonal power. The conception of impersonality preconceived the conception of personality. It was impossible for a man to conceive of impersonal power without first conceiving of peruana! power. In the animistic p-riod man did not distinguish between person and thing, the reason beinthat ho had not formed the idea that thine? had power to act, whereas he knew that men did act. Be felt very sceptical of the existence of <my notion like impersonal power in the mind of primitive ■ man He discussed the prevalent notion of a western paradtec,, and mentioned several explanations of this belief. By some, it was hold to indicate the direction from which the Fvht, e ? a fh n ? a -v]S ,d "fewHwi. but others held that the belief was connected with the setting of the s«n in the west. Belief in a future life did not nece3sarily mean belief in immortality, and held that in tho future life the mea gradually faded away into nothingness. Mr Skinner srad he sgreed in the main with Professor Dunlop's conclusion that we should hesitate before accepting this modern view, that before the ago m which man explained movement in nature by tho action of personalities eimilar to his own there was an ag© in which he had a conception of generalised impersonal power Iho Maori conception of mana was always personal. No final decision had bem come to, he Eaid, m regard to having another popular course in anthropology next year but he thought such a, course would be given rad that it would be considerably uhorter