Question

Why does Wittgenstein say we have myths?

Answer 1

Wittgenstein asserts that myths are essential in society for providing structure, imparting values, and dispensing chaos. They serve as vehicles for collective understanding and identity, and their transition to rational narratives is gradual and zig-zagging over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ludwig Wittgenstein, an Austrian philosopher known for his influential works in the philosophy of language, suggests that we have myths because they serve multiple essential functions in society. Myths provide answers to life's most pressing questions, maintain order, dispel chaos, and promote continuity and identity within a community. They come in the form of stories to are instructive, helping humans make sense of the world around them by presenting a structure and meaning to experiences that might otherwise seem incoherent.

Moreover, myths are not always based on falsehoods or lies; they can simply be narratives that have been accepted and passed down through generations to express cultural or societal values. In Sorel's perspective, myths carry emotional charges and simplify the world, resonating with the collective unconscious. As societies evolve, the transition from mythos (supernatural tales) to logos (rational, logical explanations) occurs in a gradual and uneven progression. In essence, Wittgenstein saw myths as an integral part of human life, necessary for bringing coherence to the otherwise chaotic nature of the human experience.

Answer 2

Wittgenstein views myths as necessary constructs that provide order and meaning to human life and are central for societal cohesion, identity, and emotional unity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Wittgenstein's perspective on myths reflects human beings' inherent need for coherence and meaning in a world that often presents itself as chaotic and disordered. Myths serve a crucial role in establishing a sense of order and conveying moral truths through stories which communities believe and by which they are guided. Whether myths hold any factual accuracy is secondary to their role in providing a poetic form of truth that resonates with human intuition and offsets the mental chaos people abhor. Societal cohesion and identity formation often rely on an ideological foundation built on myths, which are latent in the collective unconscious and imbued with powerful symbols that emotionally charge and unify a society's members.

Contrary to viewing myths solely as falsehoods, Wittgenstein and other philosophers, like Sorel and Lenin, understand their integral role in society and the development of cultural and social narratives. They recognize that the transition from mythological thinking to rational thought, from mythos to logos, is neither abrupt nor linear but rather a zigzagging progression that blends rationality with the rich tapestry of mythological narrative.