Final answer:
The noble savage theory was developed by various theorists, including Edward Tylor in the 19th century. It suggests that cultures progress from 'savagery' to 'barbarism' to 'civilization'. However, this theory is not widely accepted in modern anthropology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The notion of the noble savage theory was developed by various theorists throughout history. One of the earliest proponents of this theory was the British anthropologist Edward Tylor in the 19th century. Tylor suggested that cultures progress from 'savagery' to 'barbarism' to 'civilization'. However, it is important to note that the noble savage theory has been criticized for its ethnocentric and biased nature, and is not widely accepted in modern anthropology.