Sir James George Frazer

Sir James George Frazer was a Scottish social anthropologist and folklorist who made significant contributions to the early development of the study of mythology and comparative religion. Here's a summary of his life and work:

• Life: (1854-1941) Born in Glasgow, Scotland. Studied at Glasgow University and Trinity College, Cambridge. Became a fellow at Cambridge and later held a professorship in social anthropology at Liverpool.
• Known for: Primarily known for his magnum opus, The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (later revised as The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion). This influential work explored similarities in magical and religious beliefs across cultures.
• Contributions:
  • Pioneered the study of mythology and religion through a comparative lens.
  • Proposed a theory of cultural evolution, suggesting societies progress from magic to religion to science. (This view is no longer widely held by anthropologists today.)
  • Influenced various fields including literature, psychology, and social anthropology.
• Other works: In addition to The Golden Bough, Frazer wrote other books on folklore, religion, and society.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Research methods: Frazer relied heavily on secondary sources like missionary accounts and ancient texts rather than conducting fieldwork himself.
• Criticism: While highly influential, Frazer's theories have been critiqued for their evolutionary framework and limitations of his methodology. Modern anthropologists emphasize the importance of fieldwork and cultural context.
• Legacy: Despite these criticisms, Frazer remains a significant figure in the development of anthropology and the study of religion.