Mythical Totalities : Studies in the Philosophy of Mythology

This volume brings together senior and junior scholars from across the globe to revisit the question of myth in the history of philosophy. They explore the structure of mythical symbolism and the problem of the meaning of myth.

This volume brings together senior and junior scholars from across the globe to revisit the question of myth in the history of philosophy. By exploring the structure of mythical symbolism, and focusing on the problem of mythical meaning, the volume lays bare the tautegorical approach to the philosophy of mythology, first initiated by F.W.J. Schelling in the 19th century and later by Ernst Cassirer. The authors further explore the philosophy of mythology in other key figures of 19-20th century European philosophy, including Claude Levi-Strauss, Friedrich Nietzsche, Emmanuel Levinas, Jacques Derrida, and Hans Blumenberg, among others. Given the ubiquitous character of myth, they further investigate the intersection of European philosophy and Japanese philosophy by addressing the problem of myth in Tanabe Hajime and Kiyozawa Manshi.