be seen as a living entity, or collection of living entities, which operates in ways which will protect itself and ensure its survival. However, human society include one element not present in the lower animal kingdom --- reason. It is necessary for human beings to explain their actions to one another, particularly when the actions of one individual or group are detrimental in some way to another individual or group.
Lowie's argument is that the society will explain or explain away any phenomena which arise from that culture: "Another tendency that is highly characteristic of all cultures is the rationalistic explanation of what reason never gave rise to. This is shown very clearly in the justification of existing cultural features or of opinions acquired as a member of a particular society" (Lowie, 1988, p. 137).
In other words, when it became clear that ruthless capitalistic pursuits resulted not only in great wealth for a few, but also in great suffering for the many, the powerful capitalists saw that they needed some explanation to rationalize th
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