Gadamer's Critique of the Rational Conception of Myth

Abstract

Many historians of philosophy have sought to establish a clear opposition
between Logos and Mythos. This opposition appears to have intensified in
modern times, influenced by the conceptions of Enlightenment thought on
one hand and driven by the scientific and technological advancements of the contemporary period on the other. Within the framework of reassessing

this negative attitude toward the concept of myth, the German philosopher
Hans-Georg Gadamer made a notable contribution. Undoubtedly, such a
reassessment necessitates a concurrent reevaluation of a range of
conceptions that intersect with and overlap this domain.
Gadamer attributed a positive value to mythological thought, recognizing it
as a bearer of a type of knowledge that transcends the boundaries of
scientific explanation. To emphasize the significance and value of myth in
both ancient and modern times, Gadamer drew upon a collection of
historical evidence, and precise conceptual and philosophical analyses. In
this article, we will examine the distinctiveness of Gadamer's perspective
on the relationship between reason and myth, while also highlighting the
significance of this perspective to modernist thought, which places a