Imagination, Prophecy, and Morality: The Relevance and Limits of Spinoza's Theory of Political Myth

Introduction Myth is an elusive and difficult concept that raises two fundamental problems for us: one of definition and one of usage. In this article I will focus on the latter. The question of the usage of myth has particular relevance in the realm of politics. What role does myth play in the formation and political structure of a state, and how does this affect its constituents? How ought myth to be used in a state; what are its benefits and limits, if any? There are four main approaches to these questions. The first conceives of myth as an opponent…