Sketch of the Mythology of the North American Indians / First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-80, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, pages 17-56

Name: Sketch of the Mythology of the North American Indians / First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-80, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, pages 17-56
Author: John Wesley Powell

By John Wesley Powell

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About This Book

The essay examines how humans construct explanations for natural and social phenomena, presenting the growth of philosophy as parallel to cultural development from earlier to later stages. It characterizes early mythic thought as projecting human will and subjective experience onto the world and classifying by visible analogies, while scientific thought treats phenomena as orderly sequences and classifies by essential affinities. The author contrasts narrower sensory discrimination in early cultures with expanded perception in advanced ones, traces a progression from animal- and spirit-centered beliefs toward centralized monotheism with subordinate angels and devils, and frames myth as an early but investigable philosophical system.

About the Author

John Wesley Powell

John Wesley Powell was a prominent American geologist, explorer, and ethnologist known for his pioneering explorations of the American West. He is best remembered for his adventurous journey through the Grand Canyon, which he documented in his book "Canyons of the Colorado." Powell's work significantly contributed to the understanding of the geology and ecology of the arid regions of the United States. He also served as the second director of the U.S. Geological Survey and was instrumental in the establishment of the Bureau of Ethnology, where he published important studies on Native American languages and cultures. His legacy includes a commitment to scientific exploration and environmental conservation.