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196.More information
As is the case with most of the themes dear to Lévy-Bruhl, the notion of myth undergoes a complete evolutionary growth. This evolution became still more apparent to us in treating of the myth in regard to mystical experience. In Mythologie primitive and L'expérience mystique et les symboles chez les primitifs, it is particularly the social aspect of the myth which is brought out. The myth is reduced to the social element of mystical experience. The Carnets bring up afresh in particular the problem of the myth and Lévy-Bruhl at this point observes that the myth is simultaneously revelation and contact with the beings of the mythical age, and that emotion is far from being absent. What further difference is there between the myth and mystical experience ? The author confesses having lacked clarity. He opens avenues of thought which unfortunately he will not have the time to explore to the full. Two kinds of distinction are outlined. The first of these establishes two chief types of revelation : « tradition-revelation » in which myths are grouped, and « experience-revelation » in which one finds mystical experiences. Within these mystical experiences he establishes a twofold distinction, in summary fashion, at the start of the last Carnet : the mystical experience which is mingled with ordinary experience where facts are present, and that mystical experience which is not so mingled, at least not directly, as is the case with the dream. The myth is held to be closer to this latter type of mystical experience; hence its intimate relationship with the dream. (Transl. by J. Dudley).
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198.More information
Gods, Women and «Pharmacy» in Greek Mythology. The study of Greek Mythology fully justifies Herophilus's phrase : « Medicines are the hands of Gods » (third cent. B.C.). A number of Gods are said to be the inventors of the drugs which are useful to Men. Their names are still alive in the scholarly or popular appellations of a great many Medicinal Herbs. However insofar as the action of a drug (of a Pharmakon) remains mysterious, one finds it in essentialy female practices as well as in Medicine. The study of these ancient beliefs, which have survived in spite of the progress of twentieth century Science, can develop the History and Epistemology of Pharmacy by stimulating research.
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