神話，並非如人們一般所認為的、僅只反映出一民族未臻文明階段前之原始思維與宗教性格。事實正好相反。一民族之文明發展、乃至其思維模式，往往從作為文明起點的神話階段便已奠定了基礎。中西方神話思想的差異，因而從一開始，便已決定雙方文明往後截然不同的走向（中國文化之發展固非始於神話，而是源於經學，如《詩》、《書》，然而仍可從中比較與西方神話真理思維向度的實質差異）。閱讀神話，實可有這層意義及認識。神話故而並非只是單純對於神靈世系或神靈性格的描述、非只反映了神話作者之想像力或創造力；而更直接反映了一民族文明之思維方式、及其看待世界與人類存在處境時之一種真理觀法。而這種觀法，直至文明的今日，仍然起著主導性之影響及作用。
若西方文明其價值淵源，實導源自神話階段對神靈超越力量之嚮往。而這一真理價值向度與觀法，就算在往後哲學對神話傳統的顛覆中，也始終一致。那麼，在中國古代經學思想（經學，乃中國古代思想價值之最高典範）中，究竟面對超越者及超越性，又是如何看待？是否有所差異？又如何回應西方文明？此一部分，也是本課程所要針對進行深入探討的環節。
Myths do not merely reflect the primitive thinking and religious character of a nation before it reaches the stage of civilization, as is generally believed. Quite the opposite is true. The development of a nation's civilization and even its mode of thinking often have its foundation laid in the mythical stage, which is the starting point of civilization. The differences between Chinese and Western mythological thoughts have determined the completely different directions of the two civilizations from the very beginning (the development of Chinese culture did not begin with mythology, but with classics, such as "Poems" and "Books". However, We can still compare it with the substantial difference between the thinking dimension of Western mythology and truth). Reading mythology can indeed have this meaning and understanding. Therefore, myths are not just a simple description of the lineage or character of gods, nor do they only reflect the imagination or creativity of the author of the myths; they also directly reflect the way of thinking of a nation's civilization and a truth when looking at the world and human existence. Observe the Dharma. And this view still plays a leading influence and role until today's civilization.
If the value of Western civilization originates from the yearning for the transcendent power of gods in the mythological stage. And this value dimension and view of truth remain consistent even in subsequent philosophical subversions of mythological traditions. So, in the ancient Chinese Confucian classics (Confucian classics is the highest example of the value of ancient Chinese thought), how do we view the transcendent and transcendence? Is there a difference? How to respond to Western civilization? This part is also the part of this course that will be discussed in depth.
1.Hesiod Epic Cycle Homerica H.G. Evelyn-White Harvard University Press 1959
2.荷馬（Homer）：《伊利亞特》、《奧德賽》，貓頭鷹出版社，2004
3.赫西俄德（Hesiod）：《神譜》、《工作與時日》，臺灣商務印書館，1999
4.讓‧皮埃爾‧韋爾南(Jean Pierre Vernant)：《神話與政治之間》，三聯書店，2001
5.《詩經》
1.Hesiod Epic Cycle Homerica H.G. Evelyn-White Harvard University Press 1959
2. Homer: "The Iliad", "The Odyssey", Owl Publishing House, 2004
3. Hesiod: "Theogony", "Works and Days", Taiwan Commercial Press, 1999
4. Jean Pierre Vernant: "Between Myth and Politics", Sanlian Bookstore, 2001
5. "The Book of Songs"
| 評分項目 Grading Method | 配分比例 Grading percentage | 說明 Description |
|---|---|---|
| 期中評量期中評量 Mid-term evaluation |
30 | 筆試 |
| 期末評量期末評量 Final evaluation |
40 | 筆試 |
| 平時成績平時成績 usual results |
30 | 含點名、小組討論 |
