The Myth-Ritual Complex: A Biogenetic Structural Analysis

Abstract. The structuring and transformation of myth is presented as a function of a number of brain “operators.” Each operator is understood to represent specifically evolved neural tissue primarily of the neocortex of the brain. Mythmaking as well as other cognitive processes is seen as a behavior...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: D'aquili, Eugene G. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell 1983
In: Zygon
Year: 1983, Volume: 18, Issue: 3, Pages: 247-269
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Summary:Abstract. The structuring and transformation of myth is presented as a function of a number of brain “operators.” Each operator is understood to represent specifically evolved neural tissue primarily of the neocortex of the brain. Mythmaking as well as other cognitive processes is seen as a behavior arising from the evolution and integration of certain parts of the brain. Human ceremonial ritual is likewise understood as the culmination of a long phylogenetic evolutionary process, and a neural model is presented to explain its properties. Finally, the mechanism by which ritual is used to resolve the antinomies of myth structure is explored.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.1983.tb00513.x