Anthropological characterization of shadows as an aspect of the multiple soul in pre-state societies

Abstract

The concept of multiple soul has been analysed on numerous occasions. However, the elements that compose it have not always received the necessary attention in an individualised way. This has been the case of the shadow as one of its vital principles. For this reason, we first reflect on the philosophical and anthropological bases on which this idea rests, placing special emphasis on the primitive mentality and the principle of participation proposed by the French anthropologist Lévy-Bruhl. The second part deals with the particular study of the shadow among pre-state societies, making an extensive review of the characteristics attributed to it by these communities. Among them, it is considered that this part of the soul exists during the life of the individual, being able to separate from the body and survive after physical death. From that moment on, in most cases it goes to the netherworld or remains next to the corpse.