Bronisław Malinowski

Culture is essentially an instrumental apparatus, by which man is put in a position the better to cope with the concrete problems that face him in his struggle for existence.

The functional view of culture insists therefore upon the principle that in every type of civilization, every custom, material object, idea and belief fulfills some vital function, has some task to accomplish, represents an indispensable part within a working whole.

The field-worker has to immerse himself in the native life, to live among the natives, to speak their language, to observe their customs, and to participate in their activities.

The final goal of ethnographic field-work is to grasp the native's point of view, his relation to life, to realise his vision of his world.

Myth is not a savage's idle fancy, but a hard-working, ever-present cultural force.

Magic is not a primitive form of science, but a distinct cultural phenomenon with its own logic and function.

The anthropologist must be a good linguist, a good observer, and a good interpreter.

The study of primitive man is the study of ourselves, for in him we see the raw material of humanity.

The essence of the functional theory is that every item of culture, every custom, every material object, every idea and every belief, has a function, and that this function is to satisfy some need, either primary or derived.

The native is not a child, but a human being with a complex culture and a rich inner life.

The true problem of anthropology is not to describe exotic customs, but to understand the meaning of human life in its diverse forms.

The Kula is not merely an exchange of goods, but a complex social institution that binds together a whole network of communities.

The field-worker must be patient, persistent, and open-minded.

The study of language is indispensable for a deep understanding of culture.

The anthropologist must be a participant observer, not merely an observer.

The concept of 'primitive' is a misleading and ethnocentric one.

The function of myth is to strengthen tradition and endow it with a greater value and prestige by tracing it back to a higher, better, more supernatural reality of initial events.

The study of culture is not merely an academic exercise, but a means to understand the human condition.

The functional approach to culture is a holistic approach.

The anthropologist must be able to see the world through the eyes of the native.