以往研究者大多把弗雷澤當作進化論學者加以批判,而忽略了他在思想史上的意義。事實上,弗雷澤深受古典學和啟蒙思想的影響,他以人類學的方式重新定義了社會和人性的自然法基礎,為西方文明由傳統進入現代提供了平穩的過渡方式。弗雷澤延續了梅因對18世紀自然權利理論的批判,他將考古學、歷史學、民族志等新興知識帶入對自然狀態的討論中,突出了歷史和習俗的價值。同時,他以認識論取代道德情感,將之作為人性論的基礎,以為社會制度和道德倫理提供相對穩定的根基。重提弗雷澤的理論有助于反思以田野調查為主的人類學方法,突出人類學對基礎理論的回應。

James Frazer is often criticized as an evolutional anthropologist,but ignored of his contribution to the intellectual history. In fact,Frazer is heavily influenced by classical studies and enlightenment thoughts. He gave his own explanation of the state of nature from an anthropological perspective. His research also put forward a more peaceful path for the transition from traditional to modern society. Frazer built on Henry Maine’s theory of the natural rights in the 18 th century,and used knowledge from the newly emerged academic fields such as archaeology,historiography and ethnography to emphasize the value of history and customs. According to Frazer,social institutions and moral orders will be more stable if based on epistemology rather than morality. To reconsider Frazer’s theory can help us re-evaluate the method of fieldwork,and bring back the method of comparative studies in dealing with fundamental questions.