Philosophy of Myth Analysis

Study Notes

Definition of myth is viewed as not necessarily innocent; it can reflect the biases and theories of the definer.
Myth definitions often come at the end of theoretical processes, influencing acceptance without presenting full arguments or evidence.
Comparison and ideological perspectives are central to understanding different definitions and interpretations of myth.

Stith Thompson's blind men and the elephant anecdote illustrates selective definitions of myth.
Myths are often categorized based on predetermined theories, leading to circular reasoning.
Plato's definition of "Man" challenged by Diogenes highlights the peril of overly broad or narrow definitions.

Three categories:
- Myths are sacred prose narratives seen as truthful accounts from the remote past.
- Legends are considered true by narrators but set in a more recent context.
- Folktales are viewed as fiction.
All three involve oral traditions and may share narrative structures.

Myths embody dogma, often sacred or related to theology and rituals.
Main characters in myths include deities, animals, or culture heroes, differing from legends where characters are usually human.
Myths explain origins of the world, humanity, and natural phenomena, often including divine or cultural narratives.

Bascom's definition is criticized for being too broad, relying on empirical observations and potentially distorted by cultural biases.
Concerns about the focus on orality dismiss important written ancient mythologies like the Iliad or Epic of Gilgamesh.
Historical context demonstrates that distinctions between myth, legend, and folktale originated within specific cultural frameworks, particularly Western.

Myth interpretations vary widely across cultures, questioning the universality of definitions.
Comparatists may impose their own cultural assumptions, risking oversimplification of non-Western mythologies.
Total reliance on empirical criteria may overlook deeper cultural meanings and social contexts of narratives.

The method assumes myth-producing cultures share simple, undifferentiated characteristics, which might not hold true.
Definitions of myth are subject to biases of the comparatist's background, limiting objectivity.
Essentialist definitions based on presumed shared traits may inadequately capture the complexity of mythological narratives.

Attempts to rigidly define "myth" encounters problems understanding cultural categories and using formal criteria.
Recognizing the fluidity of concepts is essential for meaningful engagement with myths across varied cultural landscapes.### Wittgenstein's Theory of Family Resemblances
Concept illustrates difficulties in defining categories like "games" through a shared commonality.
Defines "family resemblances" as overlapping similarities among members of a category.
Activities labeled "games" due to their resemblance to existing games; categorization involves cultural arbitrariness.

Genre categories: myth, legend, folktale, assessed by cultural significance rather than fixed criteria.
Essentialist definitions are problematic; cross-cultural patterns in narrative genres may exist, but universals are elusive.
Cultural products can have distinct classifications that vary by cultural lens.

Bascom's study emphasizes observer biases in defining narrative categories.
Classification criteria focus on reception, filtering out subjective essentialism.
Importance ascribed to stories influences classification: myths viewed as socially important narratives.

Myth defined as a narrative of socially significant importance, shared collectively.
Legend holds lesser importance, potentially only relevant to parts of society; folktales are even less significant.
Placement of stories within these categories is fluid and varies across cultures.

Social importance of stories illustrated by the gradation of character types: gods, heroes, ordinary men, and animals.
More significant stories often come with greater ceremonial presentation and prohibitions.
Truth defines stories' social importance rather than their factual accuracy; frequent allusion in social discourse indicates importance.

Modern definitions often incorrectly limit myths and legends to traditional tales, disregarding current events and figures.
"Legends in their own time" highlights how contemporary narratives can gain legendary status.
Myths serve as a function of social ideology, relevant across varying contexts and time periods.