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Show 67 portant desires and tendencies caused absolute traumas from which originated many of the aspects of his present mentality. Following this, the author quotes from the works of Jose Comez Robleda, Gustavo Adolfo Otero y Werner, as well as from his own personal investigations among ancient documents: the Popol Vuh, Chilam- Balam, the divine book or Teoamoxtli, and also among existing groups, such as the Tarahumaras, Chontales, Triques, Mayas, Otomis, etc. . . He thus demonstrates how the belief in magic persists in the indigenous mind, how the Oedipus complex, the castration custom and others appear in American mythology and traditions along-side the symbols and elements of western legends, adapted of course to the geographical conditions of this continent. If the Indians' behavior is equal to that of victims of mental schizophrenia, it is the result of a standstill in their psychic evolution, although this cannot be said to constitute a pathological nor degenerate state. Professor Basauri concludes by saying: From here and there we have drawn facts and examples which occur in studies made by psychologists, psychoanalysts, biotypologists and sociologists, and have presented them for the primary purposes of extolling the value of the works accomplished by these investigators. Even though they are not ethnologists they have nevertheless utilized ethnological data upon which to base their psychological conclusions, thus proving that ethnology in turn should take heed of this method and introduce psychoanalytical investigation as an important part of its system. The employment of such a rigorous, scientific discipline would amplify in extensiveness and profundity, the whole field of ethnology. It would provide adequate means for tearing aside the veil which still covers, to a large degree, one of the most important chapters of this science: the spiritual culture and psychic life of the American indigenous populations. 1945 Villa Rojas, Alfonso (Mexico), "La Civilizacion y el Indio," America Indigena, V, No. 1 (January, 1945), Mexico, D.F., pp. 67-72. English summary: In this article three notions now commonly held are subjected to critical analysis. They are the following: 1) it is doubtful that civilization can bring the Indian greater happiness than can his own culture; 2) it is dictatorial to try to civilize the Indian without first being able to count on his permission; 3) scientific concepts are unstable, whereas human values are eternal: which is used as an argument that science should not be regarded as an infallible guide in matters of social planning. After rebutting these points of view, the writer presents the following conclusions: 1) the idea that the Indians are happy and hence able to solve their own vital problems adequately proves, in the light of analysis, to be false; 2) present-day civilization, with its technology based on science, can benefit the Indian in |
