(1) According to Frazer, totemism represents a sort of cooperative division of labour in certain groups raising and protecting one kind of edible animal or plant food and others protecting the other ones. On the basis of Australian evidence, Frazer held it because of conception.
(2) Durkhiem, again on the basis of Australian evidence, saw in it an emblem or symbol of the collective representation of the social mind.
(3) However, Goldenweiser pointed out that given the considerable variation, no ominous solution or explanation of totemism was possible.