The document discusses several concepts related to cultural patterns and structures. It states that underlying every culture is a deep structure or essence that governs its cultural productions, even if people are unaware of it. It also discusses how Jewish kosher laws were intended to help Jews maintain a distinct existence and prevent socialization with non-Jews. Additionally, it notes that all human thought is governed by fundamental oppositions, but that each culture selects a unique set of oppositions. Myths are also described as a way for cultures to conceptualize problems through concrete representations.

1. cultural patterns need not be caused by
anything outside themselves…
underlying every culture was a deep
structure, or essence, governed by its own
laws, that people were unaware of but
which ensured regularities in the cultural
productions that emanate from it."

3. Meat and milk cannot be mixed in the sense that meat and
dairy products are not served at the same meal, served or
cooked in the same utensils, or stored together. Observant
Jews have separate sets of dishes, and sometimes different
kitchens, for meat and milk.....
the purpose of kashrut was to help Jews maintain a
distinct and separate existence from other
peoples...the effect of the laws was to prevent
socialization and intermarriage with non-Jews. It’s
argued that since the impact of the food laws was a
public affair, this would have enhanced Jewish
attachment to them as a reminder of the distinct
status of Jews.

4. All human thought is governed by bilateral
oppositions, such as culture/nature,
male/female, day/night, and life/death.
The principle of oppositions is a universal
characteristic inherent in the human brain,
but each culture is based on a unique
selection of oppositions

5. Myths are a way of thinking, using concrete
objects, about such problems as self and other,
social relations, kinship, cooking, culture and
nature, and so forth.
He argues that each myth demonstrates a
particular thinking-through of such problems by
what amounts to cultures as intellectual entities.