Definitions HQ

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a language, which is to say that we do not define it by the content of its sentences but rather by its syntax, by the rules governing the sentences' construction.

The Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a preserver of the methods of observation and reflection which were (and no doubt are) precisely adapted to discoveries of a certain type : A speculative organization and exploitation of the sensible world in sensible terms.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠authorless, meaning that when a myth is recounted, individual listeners receive a message which in a very true sense comes from nowhere.

Myth (n.) is, ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠in great contrast to poetry, a kind of speech whose 'mythical' value is preserved and undistorted even in the worst translation.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠language functioning on an especially high level where meaning succeeds practically at 'taking off' from the linguistic ground on which it keeps rolling.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠much like the grammar of a language, structured such that a linguist can work out from a remarkably small data set.

A Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not a provider of logical answers (about existential questions such as the origin of human beings, etc.)... rather, they provide ways to think about the relation between possible answers.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not able to provide logical answers. It provides ways to think about the relation between possible answers.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not about meaning... it is about mind. It sets out not to root out meaning, but, something like a computer, to set up and then resolve binaries.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not thought by men, but rather, myths think themselves out among themselves.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠outright scientific because it goes beyond the recording of observed contradictions to the tempering of them. The contradictions in question are not in the plot, but in what levi-strauss calls the structure.

Myth (n.) has ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a unity that is never more than tendential and projective. The function of its unity is not to be grasped via interpretation, but to prevent its disintegration into a confusion of opposites.

Myth (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not thought by men. Rather, myths think themselves out through men, operating in men's minds without their being aware of the fact.