Myth, the age of irrationalism, and the cult of celebrity.

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

10 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

07/14/2008

Category :

Philosophy & literature

Sub category :

Humanities/philosophy

Oboulo.com selection criteria

$ 19.95 Add to cart

Summary :

Introduction.
Myth in history and primitive cultures.
The universality of myth.
Myth replaced by Rationalism.
Socrates, doubting myth.
Plato, originating Rationalism.
Aristotle, perfecting Rationalism with Empiricism.
The downfall of Rationalism.
Spinoza's philosophy destroying the public opinion in favor of Rationalism.
Voltaire destroying the aesthetic desirability of Rationalism.
The reintroduction of myth.
Myth in popular culture, Examples.
Showing the unpleasant distinction.
Conclusion.

Abstract

Ancient and primitive cultures demonstrate the use of myth as an epistemological basis, but historically they have been replaced by Rationalism. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, the insufficiency of reason for the task we give it has become more and more evident, until at last we have been forced to severely limit the truths we believe it can attain. In fact, in contemporary society we have descended into an age of irrationalism-the inevitable result of Rationalism-an age of absolute skepticism, and once again our lost and unguided masses are basing their lifestyles upon a collection of myths-myths this time originated by popular culture. But modern society is intensely aware of the makers of these myths-of the actors and artists and musicians who create the myths-and by a curious act of transference, we have placed the normative authority of the myths on their makers, inventing the cult of celebrity.