CHAPTER VI

DISCUSSION OF KINSHIP

I. _Theoretical analysis of this concept_ (pp. 168 _sqq._).

Importance of adapting sociological concepts to those social conditions to which they are applied, exemplified on the concept of kinship (pp. 168, 169).--Necessity of giving a definition of kinship for scientific use (pp. 169-171).--The present discussion specially directed to suit the Australian evidence (pp. 171, 172).--Necessary and sufficient conditions for admitting the _existence_ of _individual parental kinship_ in any given society (pp. 172-174).--Further features thereof to be looked for in the variable social conditions and in the data of "collective psychology"; "collective ideas" held about kinship and "collective feelings" referring to it (pp. 174-176).--Preliminary definition of kinship (p. 176).--_Analysis of the concept of consanguinity_ (pp. 176 _sqq._).--Modern European idea of kinship conceived in terms of consanguinity (p. 177).--Physiological and social consanguinity (pp. 178-182).--Exact definition of the latter (p. 182).--Kinship not always based upon ideas of community of blood. Common features of the ideas underlying kinship (pp. 182, 183).--Normative ideas referring to kinship. Descent (pp. 183-185).--_Analysis of the legal side of kinship_ (pp. 185, _sqq._).--_Legal_ only one of the aspects of kinship (p. 185).--In primitive societies in particular kinship not a legal relationship (pp. 185, 186).--Discussion of some opinions thereon (Mr. Thomas, Prof. Dargun, Prof. Frazer) (pp. 186-190).--Restricted use of the term _legal_ in the Australian aboriginal society (pp. 190, 191).--_Justification of the study of the emotional characteristics of kinship_ (pp. 191 _sqq._).--Importance of feelings in the task of characterizing any personal relationship. "Collective feelings" (pp. 191, 192).--The presence in the Australian ethnographic material of objective facts which express the collective feelings referring to kinship (pp. 192-194).--Analysis of these facts (pp. 194-197).--Mutual dependence of collective ideas and collective feelings referring to kinship (pp. 197, 198).--Summary (pp. 198, 199).--Critical survey of some definitions of kinship given by other authors (Morgan, MacLennan, Mr. E. S. Hartland, Dr. Rivers, Fison and Howitt, M. von Gennep, Prof. Durkheim, Prof. Westermarck, Sir Laurence Gomme) (pp. 199-206).--Two additional remarks (pp. 206, 207).

II. _Some examples of kinship ideas suggested by the Australian folklore_ (pp. 207 _sqq._).

Introductory remarks (p. 207).--Belief in totemic conception existing among the Central tribes (pp. 208, 209).--Absence of knowledge concerning physiological procreation (pp. 209, 210).--Some important points discussed (pp. 210 _sqq._)--(1) The ignorance in question complete (pp. 210, 211).--(2) In particular no idea of _individual paternal_ consanguinity (pp. 211, 212).--(3) Analysis of the aboriginal ideas about reincarnation (pp. 212-217).--Conclusion: absence of "consanguinity" (in the social sense) among the Central tribes (pp. 217, 218).--_Beliefs in which some kinship ideas are expressed_ (pp. 218 _sqq._).--Among the Northern tribes special close tie between spirit-child and father (Gnanji, Umbaia and other Northern-Central tribes) (pp. 218-220).--Pre-established kinship involved in the belief concerning reincarnation and return of dead people (pp. 220-225).--Customs of the _couvade_ type (pp. 225, 226).--Geographical extension of the nescience of physiological fatherhood (pp. 226, 227).--Two North Queensland beliefs involving a clear idea of spiritual tie between a father and his child (pp. 227-229).--Other examples (pp. 229, 230).--Survey of the beliefs of the South-Eastern tribes possessing the idea of paternal consanguinity (in the social sense) (pp. 230-232).--Summary (pp. 232, 233).