ABSTRACT
Aristotle justified slavery by Greek ethnic superiority over the barbarians; and men, who are today troubled by feminist demands, allege the natural inferiority of women. Social life involves a multitude of practices which while not an integral part of religion are yet tightly attached to it. In the sacred principle reside the powers that conserve and augment life, that give health, social preeminence, courage in war and excellence in work. Dualism, essential to primitive thought, dominates their social organization. Given the religious character with which the primitive community feels itself invested, social life has as a necessary condition the existence, in the same tribe, of an opposed and complementary part which can freely assume the functions forbidden to the members of the first group. In the sacred principle reside the powers that conserve and augment life, that give health, social preeminence, courage in war and excellence in work.
