Obituaries

November 3, 2009

Claude Levi-Strauss, father of modern anthropology, dies at 100

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Claude Levi-Strauss, considered by many to be the father of modern anthropology, died in Paris at the age of 100.

Levi-Strauss died at his home last Friday and was buried Tuesday.

He introduced the concept of structuralism, the finding of common patterns of thought and behavior in many different human societies and activities, to the field of anthropology.

Born in Brussels to an artistic French-Jewish family, Levi-Strauss grew up near Versailles, where his grandfather was a rabbi, according to The New York Times. He studied in Paris but left France following the introduction of the Vichy regime’s anti-Jewish laws. He fought with the Free French Forces during World War II.

Levi-Strauss went on to teach at universities in Paris, New York and Sao Paulo. He conducted much of his important research in Brazil. During his career he also worked for the United Nations and the French government.

He was the author of several significant books on anthropology.

To read a blog on Levy-Strauss’ Jewish influence, click here.

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