HUM-8 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Alternative Facts, Noble Lie, Xenophanes
Document Summary
Early myth and religion is overthrown by later philosophy and rational thought. Philosophers defined their intellectual positions in opposition to the traditional myths. They both criticized myth-making and used myths themselves: right. Xenophanes, the pre socratic philosopher, criticizes homer and hesiod for representing the gods as anthropomorphic: Classical period: plato attacks traditional mythology in his republic: Myths are lies first told to children. Telling stories is for kids, philosophy is for adults. Myth corrupts through the imitation (mimesis) of immoral behavior. Its hard to find examples of good moral behavior. Ex) icarus flies too close to the sun. various ways of reading this myth. One is to read it as a cautionary tale against hubris. Other people think that readers are not going to think about the moral of it, just the actions for plato, entertainment without a moral purpose is useless. Were not going to imitate it slavishly because we"re adults: criticism of plato;he patronizes his audience.
