terms of the classificatory system are not, as McLennan supposed, merely terms of address and modes of mutual salutation. McLennan came to this conclusion because he believed that the classificatory terms were associated with no such functions as those of which we now have abundant evidence. He asks, "What duties or rights are affected by the relationships comprised in the classificatory system?" and answers himself according to the knowledge at his disposal, "Absolutely none."[1] This passage makes it clear that, if McLennan had known what we know to-day, he would never have taken up the line of attack upon Morgan's position in which he has had, and still has, so many followers.
I can now turn to the second line of attack, that which boldly discards the origin of the terminology of relationship in social conditions, and seeks for its explanation in psychology. The line of argument I propose to follow is first to show that many details of classificatory systems have been directly determined by social factors. If that task can be accomplished, we shall have firm ground from which to take off in the attempt to refer the general characters of the classificatory and other systems of relationship to forms of social organisation. Any complete theory of a social institution has not only to account for its general characters, but also for its details, and I propose to begin with the details.
- ↑ Op. cit., p. 366.
