Tylor, Edward (1832–1917)

Abstract

Edward Burnett Tylor, thought by many to be a founding figure of anthropology, is representative of the school of cultural evolutionism. His major works, Primitive Culture and Anthropology, helped to define the context of the scientific study of anthropology, based on the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin and Charles Lyell. He believed that there was a universal, functional basis for the development of society and religion. Tylor's scholarly works helped to build the discipline of anthropology in the nineteenth century. His Quaker upbringing influenced his scholarly endeavors, leaving him convinced that a better understanding of the history and prehistory of humankind could contribute to the improvement of contemporary British society.