He makes some interesting points, but his reasoning is often fuzzy and at points even contradictory . Plato’s ‘myths’ were largely intended as literary devices, standalone stories designed for a purpose not dissimilar to that of Zen koans. They are not part of a larger mythological corpus, nor is the alleged tension between myth and logos in Plato conclusively established.
Plato is rightly credited with ‘deconstructing’ the preexisting Homeric myths with a clear rationalist intent. Homeric rhapsodists would have (presumably) believed in the gods whose exploits they were describing. However, we have no indication that Plato believed in Atlantis or the mythical androgynous described in the Symposium.
The role of myth in politics , or lack thereof, is not in my view an either or question, particularly when we look at people like George Sorel or Carl Schimtt.
This topic was automatically closed 14 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.