Animism in anthropology is the belief that all things—humans, animals, plants, places, and even objects—possess a spiritual essence or soul. It is considered one of the most foundational religious worldviews, especially among Indigenous and small-scale societies, and remains a central concept in the anthropology of religion.

🌍 Definition and Origins

• Etymology: From Latin anima (“soul” or “life”).
• Concept: Animism attributes sentience, agency, or spirit to beings and things beyond humans.
• Anthropological History:
  • Coined by Edward Burnett Tylor in Primitive Culture (1871) to describe “primitive religion.”
  • Initially framed as an early stage of religious evolution, but modern anthropology sees animism as a complex worldview, not a simplistic precursor.

🔑 Anthropological Contexts

• Indigenous Belief Systems:
  • Native American traditions often view animals, rivers, and landscapes as animated with spirit.
  • Polynesian cultures emphasize mana, a spiritual force that can inhabit people or objects.
• Ethnographic Examples:
  • Amazonian peoples see hunting as a reciprocal relationship with animal spirits.
  • Siberian shamanism treats natural features as spirit-filled beings.
• Modern Perspectives:
  • Animism is not limited to “traditional” societies—people may attribute spirit to cars, computers, or robots, reflecting continuity of animistic thought.

📚 Importance in Anthropology

• Ontology & Personhood: Animism challenges Western distinctions between “animate” and “inanimate.”
• Environmental Relations: It frames humans as part of a network of sentient beings, shaping ecological ethics.
• Religious Typology: Alongside animatism and totemism, animism is a key category in the anthropology of religion.
• Cultural Continuity: Animism persists globally, influencing ritual, art, and identity.

In short: Animism in anthropology is the worldview that all beings and things possess spirit, shaping human–environment relations, ritual, and material culture across societies.

Sources: Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology on animism; Anthropology Review overview; Anthroholic glossary; Wikipedia; Britannica entry.