Alexander, Hartley Burr

About the author

Hartley Burr Alexander (1873–1939) was an American philosopher, anthropologist, and educator recognized for his research on mythologies and the symbolic frameworks of cultures in the Americas. An academic with a wide humanistic scope, Alexander examined how stories, rituals, and iconography both shaped and reflected community values, particularly in Latin American and Indigenous North American societies. His scholarly approach placed an emphasis on the universality of mythic themes, showing how peoples across diverse geographies used similar narrative structures to explain the cosmos and human existence. By merging interpretive anthropology and philosophy, Alexander’s works highlighted mythmaking as a profound expression of cultural identity, urging readers to appreciate the depth behind collective beliefs and artistic expressions.