Myth and Logos: The Rise of Philosophical Thought

Myth vs. Logos: The Dawn of Philosophy

Myth

Myths provided a sense of the world, unlike philosophy. A myth is a fantastical story, rich in symbols and metaphors, passed down through generations or created by a group of authors. Myths explain the world's origin and answer questions about the afterlife.

Characteristics of Myth:

1. A sacred narrative story.
2. Originates in a primordial, mythical time.
3. Recounts the exploits of supernatural or imaginary beings, hence its symbolic nature.
4. Considered a true narrative speaking of realities, not to be discussed or questioned.

Myth refers to a deeper meaning, an experience beyond history, serving as a reference for the present. Myths are typically transmitted orally, highlighting social identity and cohesion, playing a key role in group unity. Ultimately, myth responds to a need for knowledge and problem-solving, possessing great value and complexity.

Logos

Logos means word, reason, argument, or discourse. It refers to language or speech based on reason, expressing a rational understanding of the world. Logos relies on natural elements and rational arguments for explanation, eliminating the need to resort to gods.

With logos, the question of meaning itself addresses natural phenomena, seeking to explain natural laws through immanent inquiry.

Characteristics of Logos:

1. Rational discourse explaining things.
2. Structured as a rational, ordered, demonstrable, and non-dogmatic argument.
3. Raises an immanent, not transcendent, question (unlike myth).
4. Its development marked humanity's triumph in explaining nature, free from gods and irrationality.
5. Logos is the origin of philosophy.

From Myth to Logos

Early philosophy emerged from myths, critiquing anything beyond reason. The gradual replacement of mythical narratives with rational discourse is known as the passage from myth to logos.

According to W. Nestle, philosophy arose from this gradual replacement. The Greeks' Mediterranean expansion and colony creation brought new needs that myth couldn't address. The protagonists of this shift, known as pre-Socratic philosophers, formed schools like those of Miletus or Pythagoras. They were the first to offer rational explanations of the cosmos.