Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 10, 2024

The Dynamics of Mythos and Logos: Tracing the Origins of the Spirit of Ancient Greek Civilization

(Abstract)

Yan Di

Mythos and logos are two significant concepts within ancient Greek civilization, jointly constituting the core spirit of ancient Greece and exerting an endogenous influence on the formation of Western civilization. The retrospective study of the origins of the two concepts offers a way to understand the trajectory of Western civilization from its beginnings and to understand the driving forces behind its development. Mythos and logos are not isolated concepts; rather, they have undergone complex changes and interactions within a dichotomous and dialectical relationship. Their status and authority have fluctuated over different periods, with their connotations evolving accordingly. In this way, the dynamic principles of Greek civilization were constituted amidst a conflict and a linkage that shaped the unique and rich world of ancient Greece. The dynamics of mythos and logos extend right to the essence of the ancient civilization’s own construction and its founding logic, and its openness and inclusiveness provide lasting space and vitality for the development and expansion of civilization.