Chrissy Erickson

“Noble Savage” is an idea - that humans are innately good and innocent.

This concept began with mass colonization in the early 18th century - romantics looked at the newly discovered natives, their pure societies and they became wistful for the way life could have been.

Thus, through one-sided, inaccurate, romantic viewings, the idea of the “Noble Savage” came about – humans untarnished by civilization developed into more dignified creatures, i.e. “nature’s gentleman.”

This suggests that humans were organically good and pure, it was civilization and society which corrupts us.

When humans live a simple life in harmony with nature we are true untainted nature.

The noble savage, an idolized view of the way humans were and could be, was noted a possessing of several characteristics:

- Living in harmony with nature- Generosity and selflessness- Innocence- Inability to life, fidelity- Physical health- Disdain of luxury- Moral courage- “Natural” intelligence or innate, untutored

wisdom

“Noble Savagery” isn't’ so much a crude stereotype than an ego boost – who wouldn’t like to believe that they are naturally good and it is society that has corrupted them?

We can place the blame on something externally and escape unscathed.

While this sounds quite a pleasant idea, its is a faintly gauzed lie. Humans are not naturally good. For example – we don’t need anyone to tell us how to behave “badly” yet, from the time we are born we are constantly being reminded of ways to be “good.”

The Super- Ego is Freud's propitiation on human moral behavior, the superego stands as the moral component of the psyche. It is the human sense of guilt and conscience. Naturally, humans feel guilt about themselves, society and their own flaws. They feel guilt over the state of the world, and thus they create an ideal human behavior, which actually shows very little support and truth. The Noble Savage provides a sort of justification and comfort for behavior and corruption.

Man isn't a noble savage, he's an ignoble savage. He is irrational, brutal, weak, silly, unable to be objective about anything where his own interests are involved — that about sums it up. I'm interested in the brutal and violent nature of man because it's a true picture of him. And any attempt to create social institutions on a false view of the nature of man is probably doomed to failure.

These points are extreme, however they raise a valid question (earlier mentioned) – what propels man to think that he is naturally pure and almost faultless? What does that say about humans? Can we not take blame for our faults and downsides? Why must we feel compelled to continually place the blame on everyone else? Why do humans have such a problem with criticism?

We feel we must cover up our flaws.

Noble Savage." Wikipedia. 20 Sept. 2008 <http://www.wikipedia.org>.