A.F. Losev’s Typology of Myths: A ReconstRuction of the Scheme and Basic PRinciples in Platonic Investigations. 2024. Vol. 20. No 1. Pp. 312-333. DOI 10.25985 ...

Abstract

This article attempts to reconstruct A. F. Losev's typology of myths and reveal its basic principles. It is shown that the structure and internal logic of this typology can be found in other works by Losev of the 1920s-1930s. The specificity of Losev's understanding of myth and, as a consequence, the nature of his typology is revealed. It is shown that Losev's theory of myth cannot be reduced to a cultural or historical-religious perspective. On the basis of several works by Losev, the antithetical principle of Losev's dialectic is examined and its place in the typology of myths under study is revealed. Based on the revealed logic of Losev's scheme and his separate (somewhat disparate) definitions of various types of mythologies, the typology is reconstructed in three main dimensions: objective, subjective, and absolute. The connection between different types of mythologies is shown and the dependence of relative mythologies on absolute ones is substantiated. In conclusion, the main problems of the reconstruction are summarized and the prospects of its application in the field of philosophy of religion, linguophilosophy and political theology are shown.