Who is known for their writings on how natives think and mystic participation?

Study for the Dantes General Anthropology Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your assessment!

The writings on how natives think and the concept of mystic participation are primarily associated with Lucien Lévy-Bruhl. He introduced ideas about the "primitive" mentality, asserting that non-Western cultures operate according to different logic and cognitive frameworks that he termed "pre-logical" thinking. His work focused on how these cultures perceive the world, particularly through a lens of participation in the mystical and social aspects of their environment. Lévy-Bruhl emphasized the communal ties that bind individuals to their environment and how this influence shapes their understanding and thought processes.

In contrast, the other figures mentioned have different focuses: Margaret Mead is well-known for her anthropological studies on culture and gender; Bronislaw Malinowski is celebrated for his contributions to participant observation and the study of functionalism in cultures; and Mary Douglas Leakey is recognized for her contributions to paleontology and archaeology, not for the study of native thought processes. Thus, Lévy-Bruhl stands out for his specific examination of native thinking and the concept of mystic participation.

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