Work on Myth (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought) Book

Why, with the advent of modern science, has myth not come to an end? Could it be that, rather then being incompatible, myth and reason have complementary functions in making human existence possible? In this rich examination of how we inherit and transform myths, which was awarded the Sigmund Freud prize in 1980, Hans Blumenberg continues his study of the philosophical roots of the modern world. Work on Myth is in five parts. The first two analyze myth's necessity and its distinctive characteristics, and the stages in the West's work on myth. Authors such as Freud, Cassirer, Joyce, and Valéry are discussed at length. The remaining three parts present a comprehensive account of the history of the Prometheus myth, from Hesiod and Aeschylus to Gide and Kafka. A special feature of this account is an extended analysis of Goethe's lifelong dealings with Prometheus, which is a unique synthesis of "psychobiography" and history of ideas.Read More