The Emergence Machine

Totemism

abstract · Anthropology · Level 10 · E9

E9Cultures

Each concept here is mapped to its prerequisites — the ideas you'd need first to understand it — all the way down to four foundations: Space, Time, Energy, Pattern. Click any prerequisite to drill down, or scroll for the chain graph.

Trace. Question. Emerge.

Emergence definition

Totemism emerges from the complex interplay of human beliefs, as individuals and societies assign symbolic meaning to animals, plants, or objects, and use these symbols to convey identity, status, and cultural values.

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Wiktionary senses

External reference — all senses of the word “totemism” on Wiktionary. This atlas concept maps to only the slice of meaning relevant to the prerequisite graph.

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Source: Wiktionary — “totemism”. Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Historical origin

Origin word
totemism
Origin language
English

Prerequisite chain

Possible path of this concept down to the fundamental substrate.

thisfoundationsL10L9L8L7L2L1L0TotemismBeliefCultureSocietyThoughtCommunityLanguageMind… intermediate l…FormInformationLifeStructureActionChangeCollectionMatterEnergyPatternSpaceTimeE1 concrete → E14 abstract

Neighborhood

Direct prerequisites above, concepts that depend on this one below.

thisprerequisitesTotemismL10BeliefL9CultureL9E1 concrete → E14 abstract

In other languages

Prerequisites

What you need to understand first.

  • Belief L9 (foundational)
    Belief provides the foundational basis for understanding totemism.
  • Culture L9 (requires) mutual
    totemism is a concept studied in anthropology.