Preface: The Myth of the Eternal Return

It is necessary to ask what induces the cyclical perception of the universe, common to so many cosmologies in every epoch and latitude: the desire to master the future, the terror the inexorable passing of time inspires ―the principal vector of existential emptiness ("horror vacui")―, or t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Losada Goya, José Manuel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/18561
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/18561
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:2-264:82
82:2-264
Myth
Mythcriticism
Mythology.
Mito
Mitocrítica
Mitología.
Mitología (Religión)
Literatura
5701.07 Lengua y Literatura
Descripción
Sumario:It is necessary to ask what induces the cyclical perception of the universe, common to so many cosmologies in every epoch and latitude: the desire to master the future, the terror the inexorable passing of time inspires ―the principal vector of existential emptiness ("horror vacui")―, or the impression left in our imaginations by the continual repetition of events? Humans are beings of routine. S/he is also a being who is eager for knowledge. Along these lines, it is important to know why the Eternal Return is inseparable from other myths appertaining to knowledge: catabasis (Persephone, Orpheus, Theseus, Eneas) and numerous prophecies reveal (Ultima Thule, Apocalypse, Chilam Balam of Chumayel), in their own way, what has happened and what will. Probing other cultures and ourselves, we are beings of habit who crave understanding of our enigmatic world.