Excerpt from The Evolution of Political Thought N the Introduction to a recent work on social anthropology, already mentioned in the Preface,1 the editors state that 'we do not consider that the origins of primitive institutions can be dis covered and, therefore, we do not think it worth while seeking for them'. This may be true. It need not, however, prevent us from noting what appear to be the basic characteristics of man, considered from a political point of view. It is hardly in question, for example, that men have always (since being recognisable as men) lived in groups of some kind, family groups or tribes. Man is thus a social animal, although less so perhaps than some other creatures, especially certain insects. Man is also carnivorous, able to live on either a meat or a vegetable diet but equipped with teeth different from those of a grass-eating animal. Some at least of his food has always been trapped or pursued, fished or shot. Then again, the young of the human family (born singly, for the most part, not in a litter) are helpless for an exceptionally long period, needing protection and care for many years and maturing very slowly indeed.