David Shankland

WESTERMARCK, MORAL BEHAVIOUR AND ETHICAL RELATIVITY

Introduction

Westermarck, moral behaviour and ethical relativity. Discover Edward Westermarck's vital, yet overlooked, contributions to anthropology. Bridging Scottish Enlightenment with modern ethical relativity and moral behavior.

Abstract

Edward Westermarck is known but scantily in the modern anthropological consciousness. His name appears, if it does at all, usually in a passing comment or perhaps a footnote, often rather disparagingly. This, I would argue is quite wrong, all the more so as he fits in precisely with the topic of our conference. He is, I would say, an unheralded bridge between the Scottish Enlightenment and modern anthropology, a person whose work far from being played out, deserves to be at the absolute centre of our understanding of the development of our discipline. Who then, was this Westermarck?

Review

This submission presents a compelling and ambitious re-evaluation of Edward Westermarck, positioning him as a crucial, yet underappreciated, figure in the history of anthropological thought. The author's strong assertion that Westermarck serves as an "unheralded bridge between the Scottish Enlightenment and modern anthropology" immediately signals a paper that aims to challenge conventional narratives and bring a neglected scholar back into the disciplinary spotlight. This proactive and somewhat polemical stance suggests a passionate engagement with the subject matter, promising a lively and potentially revisionist contribution to our understanding of the discipline's intellectual lineage, particularly concerning moral behaviour and ethical relativity. The abstract effectively highlights the paper's central argument: that Westermarck's work, far from being outdated, remains profoundly relevant, especially in the context of contemporary discussions on ethics and cultural variation. The explicit intention to rescue Westermarck from "scant" and "disparaging" recognition is a strong hook, indicating a detailed exploration of his contributions that might shed new light on the origins of ethical relativism and its connections to earlier philosophical traditions. Should the paper deliver on its promise, it could significantly enrich our understanding of how ideas on moral philosophy transitioned into early anthropological inquiry, filling a notable gap in historical accounts of the discipline. While the abstract compellingly sets the stage, the full paper will need to robustly substantiate these claims. It will be crucial for the author to meticulously outline the specific mechanisms through which Westermarck forged this "bridge," detailing his conceptual innovations and demonstrating their direct influence on modern anthropological thought regarding moral behaviour and ethical relativity. Moving beyond assertion, the paper must provide concrete examples and analytical depth to explain *why* his work deserves a central place and *how* it transcends mere historical curiosity. A critical engagement with previous interpretations of Westermarck, explaining *why* they were disparaging or incomplete, would also strengthen the argument, ensuring that the paper offers a truly transformative perspective rather than just an appreciative one.

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