Mythological Thought to Philosophy: Ancient Period
The Transition from Mythological Thought to Philosophy
Myth is the first attempt to explain what surrounds us, from natural processes to social, political, moral, and religious aspects. Overall, mythical thinking has the following features:
- Using people or legendary figures: In myth, the forces of nature are personified as deities (anthropomorphism).
- Fantastic stories: While myths reflect a process of observation of nature, the explanations used are not substantiated or verifiable laws, but rather the capricious will of the gods.
- The author of the myth is usually unknown and appeals to folk tradition.
- They have a traditional and uncritical character. Members of a given culture learn the traditions of myths through teaching, and these myths are accepted by faith without being subjected to critique.
Three stages are usually distinguished in the formation of mythical thinking:
- Fetishism or animism: Objects are attributed a life similar to humans and given power over nature.
- Polytheism: This affirms the existence of several supernatural beings with powers beyond those of humans, who are able to influence the course of nature and even the lives of people.
- Monotheism: All phenomena that occur in nature, and the very existence of nature, are due to the action and will of a single supernatural being.
To the dissatisfaction that mythical thinking produces, we might add, as in the previous text of Aristotle, two new causes of philosophical thinking. On the one hand, there is wonder or surprise at the attitude of natural phenomena, or else, the recognition of our ignorance or awareness of the limitations of our powers to think about what surrounds us. Plato tells us in the Banquet, “Neither the ignorant deal with philosophizing or wishing to be wise, since the evil of ignorance is that the sufferer is neither noble nor fair, nor wise, yet thinks themselves sufficient. Whoever does not believe to be lacking in anything, feels no desire for the things they do not believe they need.”
Ancient Philosophy
Ancient Philosophy is a period that extends from the beginning of philosophy in the 5th century BC until the 3rd century AD. In this period, the majority of issues that will constitute philosophical reflection arise. This raises the basic questions of ontology, epistemology, logic, morals, ethics, and political theory.
Philosophy and Citizenship
In this period, we can distinguish two stages:
- Cosmological Stage: The central issue is the question of physis, regarded as a dynamic generator of change and the processes that occur within itself according to a certain order. In pursuit of that or those first principles, philosophy will seek to go beyond what sensitive data provides to find the ultimate laws governing the universe, including human beings themselves and even their institutions.
- Anthropological Stage: Towards the 5th century BC, the question of the human being becomes the center of philosophical thought. During the so-called Age of Pericles, the social and political life of Athens takes shape. At this time, the interest of philosophy will focus on practical issues and the dual condition of the person as a human being and citizen.