ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how conceptions of the outsider play not this extrinsic role, but an intrinsic one in the development of philosophical positions. It begins with some general reflections on the concept of the savage. The chapter shows how this concept functions in the positions developed by several prominent philosophers. The term ‘savage’ is most likely derived from the Latin word ‘silva’, meaning woods or forest. It came into the English language via Old French, presumably as a result of the Norman Conquest. The connection with the forest is clear in this case. The concept of the savage as a limiting concept marks a level of wickedness that goes beyond the limits of human capabilities. However, the concept of the Noble Savage as a critical concept marks a level of virtue that goes beyond the limits of human capabilities. These two limits mark the upper and the lower boundaries of culturally acceptable behaviour.
