This partakes of the rediscovery of the

题目

This partakes of the rediscovery of the
原文是：
This partakes of the rediscovery of the wheel,since before positivism largely took over the social sciences in American universities in the 1950s,it was generally assumed by professors,as well as laymen,that culture had a great deal to do with how material civilization developed.

答案

I have never seen " partakes" used in this way. usually means to take part, or be involved with something. "This" is referring to the previous sentence or paragraphs.