Ontological and Epistemological Function of Mythical-Religious Consciousness in the Philosophy of Ernst Cassirer and Mircea Eliade
Studia Religiologica April 30, 2025 Jan Jakub Kalinowski
The article presents a concept of mythical-religious consciousness by examining the meaning-giving role of myth and the category of the sacred in the works of Ernst Cassirer and Mircea Eliade. Despite their differences, both thinkers share an antireductionist and anti-Cartesian approach to myth. The perspective is supplemented with Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutical philosophy to integrate it into broader anthropology. The aim is to establish a synthetic, trans-disciplinary framework drawing on ontology, epistemology, linguistics, psychology, sociology, and religious studies, while acknowledging the risk of oversimplification. The study also connects to ongoing research in 4E cognition to enhance its relevance.