This excerpt from Lévi-Strauss's The Savage Mind contrasts Western scientific thought with the cognitive processes of so-called "primitive" societies. Lévi-Strauss argues that these societies possess a deep understanding of their environment, demonstrated by extensive botanical and anatomical knowledge. He further explores the nature of artistic creation, suggesting it mediates between scientific objectivity and the more intuitive approaches of myth-making and bricolage. The author examines how games and rituals similarly function as structured activities that either generate differences (games) or overcome them (rituals). Finally, he analyzes how artistic expression integrates structure and event, contrasting this with the reverse process in myth-making.

Please note that the podcast covers key points from the source with synthetic voices, which may have glitches. It’s a reflective, not comprehensive, interpretation.

Lévi-Strauss, C. (1962). The savage mind. Univ. of Chicago Press.

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