Chapter IV: Savage Moral Philosophy

Are there any authentic cases of a total absence of moral
distinctions among savages?—Unsatisfactory evidence regarding
their moral notions—The Bushman’s notion of a good and bad
action—The fear of fellow-tribesmen, of spirits and ghosts,
the primary source of distinction in the moral quality of
actions—Moral restraints in secular punishments—Compensation
necessary for homicide—Collective responsibility for crimes—Is
murder ever regarded as indifferent?—Different institutions
for the prevention of wrongs—Greenland singing-combats,
_tabu_, _muru_, confession. Sins or fanciful wrong acts,
illustrated by feelings of proper behaviour with regard to
storms, to ancestors, to names, and to animals—Little evidence
among savages of any idea of moral qualities apart from the
consequences of actions—Their ideas of a future state throw
little light on their moral sentiments—Doubtful evidence
of a belief in a future life as affected by good or bad
conduct—Fundamental agreement between savage and civilised
morality 101-129