Review article

Myth as a Anthropological Constant

Krešimir Šimić orcid.org/0000-0001-9078-7780 ; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

A newer history of hermeneutics beginning with the works of the German theologian F. Schleiermacher, under the influence of existential philosophy, reached its summit towards the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, especially amongst liberal Protestant theologians attempting to demythologise Biblical texts. These efforts led to a particular land of reductionism. It did however result in opening complex hermeneutical questions with emphasis on myth. The nature of myth has been enlightened by psychology (Freudian and Jungian), anthropology and above all, in the context of theory of literature, in the modern and post-modern novels, which have a predisposition towards myth, or the so called mythological conscience, mythological thinking. Noticing that myth and mythological reflection is an anthropological constant, the conclusion has been formed Bultmann's demythologisation is erroneous not only because it leads to reductionism, but also due to the fact that myth and mythological reflection are a dimension in which man lives and the fact that myths appear is the most unlikely situations and places. True »demythologisation« occurs prior to legacy.

Keywords

myth; consciousness of the mythical; mythological thinking; mythogenesis; hermeneutics; legacy

Hrčak ID:

27503

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/27503

Publication date:

10.2.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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