Primitive Thinking

Focusing on early twentieth-century Germany, the book analyzes the concept of 'primitive thinking' through various texts, including social sciences, art, and language. It highlights literary contributions from figures like Robert Musil, Walter Benjamin, and Gottfried Benn, emphasizing three key representations of alterity in European primitivism: indigenous cultures, children, and the mentally ill. This exploration reveals the complex interplay between culture, identity, and perceptions of difference during a transformative period in European thought.