Book excerpt: This classic is organized as follows: Introduction Part I Chapter I. Collective Representations in Primitives’ Perceptions and the Mystical Character of Such Chapter II. The Law of Participation Chapter III. The Functioning of Prelogical Mentality Part II Chapter IV. The Mentality of Primitives in Relation to the Languages They Speak Chapter V. Prelogical Mentality in Relation to Numeration Part III Chapter VI. Institutions in Which Collective Representations Governed by the Law of Participation Are Involved (I) Chapter VII. Institutions in Which Collective Representations Governed by the Law of Participation Are Involved (II) Chapter VIII. Institutions in Which Collective Representations Governed by the Law of Participation Are Involved (III) Part IV Chapter IX. The Transition to the Higher Mental Types