Contributions to the Science of Mythology PDF

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I have hesitated for a long time before making up my mind to publish these two volumes on the Science of Mythology.

I was sorry, no doubt, that I should have to leave this gap in the work of my life as I had planned it many years ago, namely an exposition, however imperfect, of the four Sciences of Language, Mythology, Religion, and Thought, following each other in natural succession, and comprehending the whole sphere of activity of the human mind from the earliest period within the reach of our knowledge to the present day.

There is nothing more ancient in the world than language.

The history of man begins, not with rude flints, rock temples or pyramids, but with language.

The second stage is represented by myths as the first attempts at translating the phenomena.

Of nature into thought. The third stage is that of religion or the recognition of moral powers, and in the end of One Moral Power behind and above all nature.

The fourth and last is philosophy, or a critique of the powers of reason in their legitimate working on the data of experience.