Question

What view does the myth of the Metallic Races of Mankind (gold, silver, bronze, heroes, iron) present in terms of the relation between past and present? Give an example.

a) The myth suggests a cyclical view of history. Example: The decline from gold to iron symbolizes regression.
b) The myth reflects a linear progression in human development. Example: The evolution from silver to heroes signifies growth.
c) The myth highlights a parallel existence of multiple races. Example: The simultaneous coexistence of gold, silver, and bronze.
d) The myth indicates a random distribution of characteristics among different races. Example: The unpredictability of heroism among metals.

Answer 1

The myth of the Metallic Races reflects a cyclical view of history, suggesting a decline from an idealized golden past to a degraded iron present, symbolizing regression in moral and cultural quality over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The myth of the Metallic Races of Mankind, which describes a hierarchy of races associated with different metals (gold, silver, bronze, heroes, iron), presents a view of history that suggests a decline or degeneration from a golden past to a less perfect present. This myth fosters a belief that the past held ages of greater virtue and strength, which have progressively degraded over time.

For example, the golden race represents an age of perfection that humanity has lost, the silver is one of lesser value and so on, culminating in the iron race, which is seen as the current and most degraded era. This reflects a cyclical view of history, where the current age is interpreted as a time of moral and societal decline from an idealized past. The myth suggests that each subsequent metal represents a step down in the moral, physical, and cultural quality of humanity.