02344cam a22003613u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003701000130007804000110009104100170010205000070011910000370012624500180016325000170018126400510019830000470024933600260029633700260032233800360034850000310038450800450041552012630046053400680172365300170179165300240180865300280183285600600186085600430192099900190196371985UtSlPG20260610134650.0mcr n260607r20231913utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  a14002025  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aHM1 aFrazer, James George,d1854-194110aPsyche's task  a2nd edition. 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2023  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2023-10-30  aan anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer  a"Psyche's Task: A Discourse Concerning the Influence of Superstition on the Growth of Institutions" by J.G. Frazer is a scholarly examination written in the early 20th century. The work delves into the profound effect that superstition has had on the development and stability of societal institutions such as government, private property, marriage, and the respect for human life. Frazer posits that while superstition is often viewed negatively, it has played a significant role in reinforcing certain social structures and facilitating cooperation among individuals.  The opening of the discourse introduces the theme of superstition's dual nature as both a source of social strength and individual folly. Frazer outlines his intention to argue that superstition has historically provided support for civil institutions, thereby contributing to social order. He introduces four main propositions he intends to explore, each linking superstition to a foundational aspect of society, including governance and property rights. With a blend of historical examples and anthropological observations, he sets the stage for a nuanced discussion that challenges the conventional view of superstition as solely harmful. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  pOriginally published:cLondon: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1913  aSuperstition  aPrehistoric peoples  aCivilization -- History4 uhttps://archive.org/details/psychestaskdiscop00frazuoft40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/71985  c112711d112711