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Future Paths of Phenomenology

1st OPHEN Summer Meeting

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From philosophy to criticism of myth

Cassirer's concept of myth

Ursula Renz

pp. 135-152

Abstract

This article discusses the question whether or not Cassirer’s philosophical critique of technological use of myth in The Myth of the State implies a revision of his earlier conception and theory of myth as provided by The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms. In the first part, Cassirer’s early theory of myth is compared with other approaches of his time. It is claimed that Cassirer’s early approach to myth has to be understood in terms of a transcendental philosophical approach. In consequence, myth is conceived as a form of cultural consciousness which is constituted by specific symbolic processes. In the second part, the theoretical assumptions underlying Cassirer’s criticism of myth are discussed and compared with his earlier theory. It is argued that there is a strong conceptual and theoretical continuity between Cassirer’s early views on myth as a symbolic form and his later critique of technological use of myth.

Publication details

Published in:

Pedersen Esther Oluffa, Brock Steen, Festersen Claus, Pedersen Stig Andur (2011) The philosophy of symbolic forms and the question of human culture. Synthese 179 (1).

Pages: 135-152

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-009-9624-7

Full citation:

Renz Ursula (2011) „From philosophy to criticism of myth: Cassirer's concept of myth“. Synthese 179 (1), 135–152.