Noble savage

A noble savage is a person who belongs to an "uncivilized" group or tribe and is considered to be, consequently, more worthy than people who live within civilization. Many writers and thinkers through the centuries of Western civilization have believed in the noble savage. The expression is particularly associated with Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

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The term noble savage expresses a romantic concept of humankind as unencumbered by civilization; the natural essence of the unfettered person. The concept symbolizes the idea that without the bounds of civilization, man is essentially good. The concept has particularly associations with romantic philosophy, especially that of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and with romanticism in general. However, the phrase noble savage first appeared in The Conquest of Granada by John Dryden in 1672.

Related Topics:
Civilization - Romantic philosophy - Romanticism - The Conquest of Granada - John Dryden

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The concept appears in many books of the 18th and 19th centuries. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein forms one of the better-known examples: her monster embodies the ideal. German author Karl May employed the idea extensively in his Wild West stories. Aldous Huxley provided a later example in his novel Brave New World (published in 1932).

Related Topics:
Mary Shelley - Frankenstein - Karl May - Wild West - Aldous Huxley - Brave New World

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The concept of the "noble savage", because it is somewhat unrealistic, condescending, and frequently based on (or the basis of) certain stereotypes, is frequently considered a form of racism, even when it replaces the older stereotype of the "blood-thirsty savage". It has been criticised by many in academic, athropological, sociological and religious fields. For instance Christians consider mankind to be universally unregenerate and sinful at heart regardless of whatever people group or civilisation they are associated with. (See a critique of the Huaorani people of Ecuador in the the documentary Beyond the gates of splendor and the associated film End of the spear.)

Related Topics:
Stereotypes - Racism - Christians - Huaorani - Ecuador - Beyond the gates of splendor - End of the spear

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