Abstract

Myth was a form of truth for early Greek society. This initial conception of myth was not only considered a representation of art and poetry but also a form of culture and a source of knowledge. In this paper, I’ll argue that Plato’s attempt to reform the conception of myth was directed to represent more aspects of reality and at the same time promote understanding of its causality. Moreover, Plato’s reform included a reevaluation of the role of myth to prevent its usage in justification of good and evil, and transfer the moral responsibility of human action from the gods to humans themselves. Plato’s attempt shall not be taken as a suppression of the myth-making ability but as a natural step towards an ongoing cultural revolution of his times.

Document Type

Paper

Student Type

Undergraduate

Department, Program, or Center

Department of Philosophy (CLA)

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Publication Date

4-11-2023

Comments

2023 recipient of the Henry and Mary Kearse Writing Award

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