Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Plato and Campbell: Ideas and Function!


When God thought of Universe,
didn’t the conception of it
come to him as an Idea…
Thus, the “Idea,” the original or first reality!

When that Idea found concreteness as a vision
all came alive and true to mankind!
Oceans, mountains, rivers, plants, et al
a reflection of that Divinity
Thus, removed once from its Originality!

We, reflection a part of that Divine Idea
imitated it in form of art!
Art, architecture or literature
whatever you want to call!
Thus, “twice removed from reality,”
is what Plato conveys in his “Theory of Mimesis!”
Ah! The grace of divinity
that what we see, we reflect!
The seed, the soul, in us thus lie
when in harmony, wider view one gets…
“Mythology,” then what it is
The heart asked…
"A set of stories, of ideas,
that makes the sense of World
And, our place in it," is what Campbell called!

Camp-bell: ringing myth,
experience and adventure of soul
Universally, showing similarity, not differences but!
Experience of life that counts,
In function four he explains
thus


First function of myth,
“Mystical or Metaphysical,” he said
Awakening a sense of wonder and awe
Reconciling consciousness of everything around!
Behind all the mystery, is a picture holy to be perceived!

Cosmological function, the second he says
Image of the Cosmos, according to Science…
An image of cosmos through our inner being
In relation to everything, that soul is harmony with!

“Sociological function,” third he says
customary life, law or social roles.
Keeps evolving with changing time
Yet, on which our whole existence thrives!

Fourth function emphasizing it, “Psychological”
Various stages of struggling individual: a monomyth!
Journey through inner psyche though
initiation and enrichment of larger whole!

Second and third function,
 taken over by secular world!
What we are left with then
is first and third!

“Myth,” as a guide, then to our inner realm
Set of stories, bigger in idea, a call…
Helping us to make sense of a larger whole
Believe in your inner call,
ideas that you might have found!
Pic Courtesy: Google, save the second one!
Reference:

Plato's Theory of Mimesis and Aristotle's Defence - Literary Theory and ...

https://sites.google.com/site/.../home/plato-s-theory-of-mimesis-and-aristotle-s-defence
 

Joseph Campbell - A Scholar's Life - Center for Story and Symbol

www.folkstory.com/campbell/scholars_life.html

Joseph Campbell's “Four Functions of Myth” - Trinity University

www.trinity.edu/cspinks/myth/campbell_4_functions_myth.pdf
 

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