Noble Savage

From Unawiki

The term ‘Noble Savage reflects the concept of idealized indigene people. It was originated in Europe of the 17th century and used in the United States in identification with Native Americans or Indians since the 18th century. The degradation to be described as savages and, therefore, to be uncivilized and uneducated was compensated with noble that states they have moral consciousness in them and work close together with nature and have this unorganized, but peaceful existence. Thereby, it is a counter concept to Thomas Hobbes’ idea of state of nature as war. This idea can be seen in connection to the dominant romanticism and sentimentalism in that time because of its closeness to nature and mysticism. Recognizable is that the term was propagated after the several wars against Indians so they were upvalued after they were fought. Still today there are references in media like One flew over the cuckoo’s nest by Ken Kesey or James Cameron’s Avatar.

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