Final answer:
Levi-Strauss critiqued Malinowski's theory of functionalism for viewing 'primitive' societies as static and purely utilitarian, a perspective that didn't consider the complexities or historical backgrounds of these societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Levi-Strauss's critique of Bronislaw Malinowski's theory of functionalism was all of the below except 'Primitive' people have disinterested thoughts. Malinowski's approach was distinct in that it showed even so-called primitive societies had complex cultural systems for fulfilling a wide range of human needs, as demonstrated in his ethnography of the Trobriand people. However, later theorists like Levi-Strauss critiqued functionalism for its ahistorical perspective that didn't acknowledge historical experiences or the impacts of events like colonialism. Functionalism, attributed to Emile Durkheim, was developed further by Malinowski who believed that culture's function was to meet human biological and psychological needs. Yet, criticisms arose regarding functionalism's ability to explain social change and its circular reasoning. Structural-functional theory, which evolved from functionalism, faced similar critiques.
French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss pioneered a different approach, sometimes referred to as French structuralism, considering culture as a system of symbolic analysis. He critiqued Malinowski's functionalism for viewing societies as static and purely utilitarian, especially concerning so-called 'primitive' societies, which Malinowski believed were driven by the satisfaction of basic needs.