Folkways / A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

24253

Title

Folkways / A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

William Graham Sumner's seminal sociological treatise explores the origins and power of 'folkways'—unconscious social habits—and 'mores,' which carry moral judgment. Through extensive ethnographic examples ranging from Japanese bathing customs to global practices regarding nudity, marriage, and taboo, Sumner argues that societal norms arise from practical needs and tradition rather than pure reason, exerting a coercive force that shapes individual behavior and collective life.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Folkways*, William Graham Sumner presents a foundational sociological argument that human behavior is governed not by divine command or abstract rationality, but by the unconscious habits and customs developed through the struggle for existence. Sumner defines 'folkways' as the collective actions groups adopt to satisfy basic needs like hunger, love, vanity, and fear. Through trial and error, these expedient methods evolve into traditions that acquire traditional authority, regulating individual life without conscious intent. He contrasts these with 'mores,' which are folkways imbued with a sense of right or wrong and enforced by social coercion. The text extensively documents global variations in human behavior to illustrate the arbitrary nature of culture. Sumner explores topics ranging from nudity and bathing customs across civilizations to attitudes toward sex, marriage, slavery, cannibalism, and witchcraft. He challenges readers to view these conventions without judgment, noting that what one group considers obscene or immoral may be essential for another's survival or social cohesion. For instance, he details how European taboos on nudity are relatively recent developments compared to historical practices where sexes bathed together or slept nude. Sumner emphasizes that morality is largely a product of social evolution rather than inherent truth. He argues that folkways function as a powerful 'societal force' that dictates what is decent or obscene, often rooted in primitive notions of luck and magic rather than logic. The book serves as both an anthropological survey and a philosophical inquiry, asserting that while these norms can be modified by human effort, they are deeply ingrained forces that control undertakings and shape world philosophy. Ultimately, Sumner invites readers to understand the 'ethos' or group character of different societies, recognizing that the masses are ruled by these invisible but potent conventions that define their reality.

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Categories

• Manners and customs