Myth and Morality: The Love Command

Abstract. Following in general a history of religions analysis, the paper argues that myth lays a basis for morality in that it sets forth a picture of “how things really are” (the is), to which humans seek to conform their actions (morality, the ought). A parallel argument locates the capacity for...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hefner, Philip 1932- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Open Library of Humanities$s2024- 1991
In: Zygon
Year: 1991, Volume: 26, Issue: 1, Pages: 115-136
Further subjects:B Christian Theology
B Morality
B Myth
B Love Command
B Evolution
B Altruism
B Culture
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:Abstract. Following in general a history of religions analysis, the paper argues that myth lays a basis for morality in that it sets forth a picture of “how things really are” (the is), to which humans seek to conform their actions (morality, the ought). A parallel argument locates the capacity for morality and values orientation in the process of evolution itself. A hypothesis is formulated concerning the function of myth in the emergence of Homo sapiens, namely, to motivate the action required if creatures so culturally formed as humans were to survive. The Christian love command (understood as altruism) is interpreted as an example of the general hypothesis.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.1991.tb00805.x