Myth : its meaning and functions in ancient and other cultures /
Kirk, G. S. 1921-
Myth : its meaning and functions in ancient and other cultures / Myth: meaning and functions by G.S. Kirk - xii, 299 pages ; 24 cm - Sather classical lectures, v. 40 . - Sather classical lectures ; v. 40 .
Includes bibliographical references
Myth, ritual and folktale -- Levi-Strauss and the structural approach -- Nature of myths in ancient Mesopotamia -- Nature and culture -- Qualities of Greek myths -- Tales, dreams, symbols
This book, developed out of the 1969 Sather lectures at Berkeley, California, confronts a wide range of problems concerning the nature, meaning and functions of myths. Professor Kirk's aim is to introduce a degree of coherence and of critical awareness into a subject that arouses profound interest today, but which for too long has been the target of excessive theorizing and interdisciplinary confusion between anthropologists, sociologists, classicists, philosophers and psychologists. Professor Kirk begins by discussing the relation of myths to rituals and folktales, and the weakness of universalist theories of function. He then subjects Lévi-Strauss's structuralist theory to an extended exposition and criticism; he considers the character and meaning of ancient Near Eastern myths, their influence on Greece, and the special forms with rational modes of thought, and finally, he assesses the status of myths as expressions of the unconscious, as elements of dreams, universal symbols, as accidents along the way to some narrative objective. The result is a significant critical venture into the history and philosophy of thought, imagination, symbol and society.--From publisher description
0520016513 9780520016514 0521078547 9780521078542
Mythology
Culture
Mythology
Mythology
Mythology.
PA25 / .S3 v.40 BL311 / .K55 1970
201/.3 398 291/.13
BL 311 / K59m 1970
Myth : its meaning and functions in ancient and other cultures / Myth: meaning and functions by G.S. Kirk - xii, 299 pages ; 24 cm - Sather classical lectures, v. 40 . - Sather classical lectures ; v. 40 .
Includes bibliographical references
Myth, ritual and folktale -- Levi-Strauss and the structural approach -- Nature of myths in ancient Mesopotamia -- Nature and culture -- Qualities of Greek myths -- Tales, dreams, symbols
This book, developed out of the 1969 Sather lectures at Berkeley, California, confronts a wide range of problems concerning the nature, meaning and functions of myths. Professor Kirk's aim is to introduce a degree of coherence and of critical awareness into a subject that arouses profound interest today, but which for too long has been the target of excessive theorizing and interdisciplinary confusion between anthropologists, sociologists, classicists, philosophers and psychologists. Professor Kirk begins by discussing the relation of myths to rituals and folktales, and the weakness of universalist theories of function. He then subjects Lévi-Strauss's structuralist theory to an extended exposition and criticism; he considers the character and meaning of ancient Near Eastern myths, their influence on Greece, and the special forms with rational modes of thought, and finally, he assesses the status of myths as expressions of the unconscious, as elements of dreams, universal symbols, as accidents along the way to some narrative objective. The result is a significant critical venture into the history and philosophy of thought, imagination, symbol and society.--From publisher description
0520016513 9780520016514 0521078547 9780521078542
Mythology
Culture
Mythology
Mythology
Mythology.
PA25 / .S3 v.40 BL311 / .K55 1970
201/.3 398 291/.13
BL 311 / K59m 1970