Irrationality vs rationality? Irrationality as a door to the rational Greek thought
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15633/tst.42105Keywords:
early greek philosophy, philosophy of religion, dionysian cult, irrationality, zoeAbstract
The origin of western thought is commonly situated in Greek philosophy, with the over-arching story of logos-based rational inquiry deteriorating from the mythical stories presenting supernatural cause to the observable phenomena. This paper aims to investigate the intersection of rational and irrational factors contributing to the emergence of philosophy. Author proceeds through the examination of Ionian, Pythagorean and Orphic thought, all shaping the most influential works of Greek philosophers, such as Plato. The theoretical base of the study was embedded in the writings of Rudolf Otto and Francis M. Cornford. In result, the conclusions present the irrationality as a root for rational interpretation of reality, through the commonality endeavour of both, aiming at the elevation of human figure, its independence from chaotic actions of gods and revelation of the higher truths through the embodied means of ritual action as well as through the thinking process of ordering and synthetizing. The examples brough by the author expose the intertwining of religious belief and philosophical thought.
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