DICHOTOMY BETWEEN BODY AND SOUL/MIND IN THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH AND THOMAS MANN’S THE TRANSPOSED HEADS
Abstract
Given the complexity and awkwardness of human beings both physically and psychologically, human nature is equally difficult to comprehend. This has made it a significant topic of discussion throughout history. This article examines the struggle between body and soul/mind predicated upon Plato’s theory, which delves into their differences. The primary question explored is whether the body or soul is the determining factor. Plato argues for the supremacy of the soul over the body, using metaphors and logical arguments presented in dialogues to reinforce his points. In terms of body and soul, Plato addresses issues of justice, virtue, goodness, morality, and truth, all of which contribute to the ideal soul necessary for achieving philosophical knowledge. According to Plato, the body, bound by the deceptions of the physical world, hinders the soul's ability to reach the realm of the Forms or Ideas. This conceptual framework is extensively analyzed in Plato’s Republic, where all these terms and ideas are thoroughly explored. Plato’s theory is examined through a comparative analysis of the ancient myth The Epic of Gilgamesh and its modern reinterpretation, The Transposed Heads by the German author Thomas Mann. The study investigates the dichotomy between body and soul by analyzing the distinct yet complementary characteristics of the main characters (Gilgamesh-Enkidu and Shridaman-Nanda) in both works, drawing parallels to the relationship between body and soul.
Keywords
References
- Eliot, T. S. (1975). Ulysses, order and myth in selected prose of T.S. Eliot. Faber & Faber.
- Hare, R. M. (1982). Plato. Oxford University Press.
- Mann, T. (1959). The transposed heads: A legend of India. Vintage Books.
- Nussbaum, M. C. (1994). The therapy of desire: Theory and practice in Hellenistic ethics. Princeton University Press.
- Pasnau, R. (2012). Philosophy of mind and human nature. In B. Davies & E. Stump (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Thomas Aquinas (pp. 348-365). Oxford University Press.
- Plato. (1955). The Republic (D. Lee, Trans.). Penguin Books.
- Plato. (1974). Plato’s Republic (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company.
- Plato. (1993). Phaedo (D. Gallop, Trans.). Oxford University Press.
- Plato. (2003). Phaedrus (S. Scully, Trans.). Focus Publishing.
- Assmann, J. (2006). Religion and cultural memory (R. Livingstone, Trans.). Stanford University Press.
- Bussanich, J. (2005). The roots of Platonism and Vedanta: Comments on Thomas McEvilley. International Journal of Hindu Studies, 9(1/3), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.2307/20106908
- Denning-Bolle, S. J. (1987). Wisdom and dialogue in the ancient Near East. Numen, 34(2), 214–234. https://doi.org/10.2307/3270085
- Faden, G. (2011). No-self, Dogen, the Senika Doctrine, and Western views of soul. Buddhist Christian Studies, 31, 41-54. https://doi.org/10.2307/41416529
- Held, G. (1983). Parallels between the Gilgamesh epic and Plato’s Symposium. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 42(2), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.2307/544172
- Masao, A., & Dilworth, D. (1986). The problem of death in East and West: Immortality, eternal life, unbornness. The Eastern Buddhist, 19(2), 30-61. https://doi.org/10.2307/44361756
- Pruyser, P., & Luke, J. (1982). The Epic of Gilgamesh. American Imago, 39(2), 73-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/26303754
- Raine, K. (1994). India seen afar: What has India to give? India International Centre Quarterly, 21(4), 121-131. https://doi.org/10.2307/23003851
- Roochnik, D. (2003). Beautiful city: The dialectical character of Plato’s Republic. Cornell University Press.
- Sandars, N. K. (1960). The Epic of Gilgamesh. Penguin Books.
Abstract
Учитывая сложность и двойственность человеческой природы как в физическом, так и в психологическом аспектах, понимание человеческой сущности представляет собой трудную задачу. Данная статья рассматривает борьбу между телом и душой/разумом на основе теории Платона, исследующей их различия. Основной вопрос заключается в том, что является определяющим фактором — тело или душа? Платон утверждает превосходство души над телом, используя метафоры и логические аргументы, представленные в его диалогах. Вопросы справедливости, добродетели, блага, морали и истины, рассматриваемые в контексте души и тела, составляют основу идеальной души, необходимой для достижения философского знания.
Согласно Платону, тело, связанное с обманами материального мира, препятствует способности души достичь мира Идей. Эта концептуальная структура детально анализируется в Государстве Платона, где все эти понятия рассматриваются. Теория Платона анализируется в сравнительном контексте древнего мифа Эпос о Гильгамеше и его современной интерпретации Поменянные головы немецкого писателя Томаса Манна.
Keywords
References
- Eliot, T. S. (1975). Ulysses, order and myth in selected prose of T.S. Eliot. Faber & Faber.
- Hare, R. M. (1982). Plato. Oxford University Press.
- Mann, T. (1959). The transposed heads: A legend of India. Vintage Books.
- Nussbaum, M. C. (1994). The therapy of desire: Theory and practice in Hellenistic ethics. Princeton University Press.
- Pasnau, R. (2012). Philosophy of mind and human nature. In B. Davies & E. Stump (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Thomas Aquinas (pp. 348-365). Oxford University Press.
- Plato. (1955). The Republic (D. Lee, Trans.). Penguin Books.
- Plato. (1974). Plato’s Republic (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company.
- Plato. (1993). Phaedo (D. Gallop, Trans.). Oxford University Press.
- Plato. (2003). Phaedrus (S. Scully, Trans.). Focus Publishing.
- Assmann, J. (2006). Religion and cultural memory (R. Livingstone, Trans.). Stanford University Press.
- Bussanich, J. (2005). The roots of Platonism and Vedanta: Comments on Thomas McEvilley. International Journal of Hindu Studies, 9(1/3), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.2307/20106908
- Denning-Bolle, S. J. (1987). Wisdom and dialogue in the ancient Near East. Numen, 34(2), 214–234. https://doi.org/10.2307/3270085
- Faden, G. (2011). No-self, Dogen, the Senika Doctrine, and Western views of soul. Buddhist Christian Studies, 31, 41-54. https://doi.org/10.2307/41416529
- Held, G. (1983). Parallels between the Gilgamesh epic and Plato’s Symposium. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 42(2), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.2307/544172
- Masao, A., & Dilworth, D. (1986). The problem of death in East and West: Immortality, eternal life, unbornness. The Eastern Buddhist, 19(2), 30-61. https://doi.org/10.2307/44361756
- Pruyser, P., & Luke, J. (1982). The Epic of Gilgamesh. American Imago, 39(2), 73-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/26303754
- Raine, K. (1994). India seen afar: What has India to give? India International Centre Quarterly, 21(4), 121-131. https://doi.org/10.2307/23003851
- Roochnik, D. (2003). Beautiful city: The dialectical character of Plato’s Republic. Cornell University Press.
- Sandars, N. K. (1960). The Epic of Gilgamesh. Penguin Books.
Abstract
Öz
İnsanların hem fiziksel hem de psikolojik olarak karmaşık ve garip bireyler olmaları göz önüne alındığında, insan doğasını anlamak zordur. Bu durum, tarih boyunca önemli bir tartışma konusu haline gelmiştir. Bu makale, beden ve ruh/zihin arasındaki çatışmayı, Platon'un bu iki unsurun farklılıklarını inceleyen teorisi temelinde ele almaktadır.Çalışmanın temelini oluşturan ana soru, bedenin mi yoksa ruhun mu belirleyici faktör olduğudur. Platon, ruhun beden üzerindeki üstünlüğünü, metaforlar ve diyaloglar şeklinde sunulan güçlü mantıksal görüşlerle savunmaktadır. Beden ve ruh bağlamında Platon, adalet, erdem, iyilik, ahlak ve hakikat gibi konuları ele alır ki bunlar felsefi bilgiye ulaşmak için ideal ruhu oluşturan unsurlardır. Fiziksel dünyanın illüzyonlarıyla sınırlı olan beden, Platon'un önerdiği Formlar/Fikirler alanına ulaşabilen ruh için bir engel teşkil eder. Bu teorik çerçeve, yukarıda belirtilen tüm terim ve kavramları içeren Platon'un Devlet adlı eseri aracılığıyla incelenmektedir. Platon'un teorisi, eski bir mit olan Gılgamış Destanı ve Alman yazar Thomas Mann tarafından yazılmış modern bir yeniden yorumlama olan Değişen Kafalar'a karşılaştırmalı bir çalışma perspektifinde uygulanmaktadır. Beden ve ruh ikilemi konusuna değinilerek, her iki eserdeki ana karakterlerin (Gılgamış-Enkidu ve Shridaman-Nanda) farklı doğaları ve beden ile ruh gibi tamamlayıcı özellikleri incelenerek analiz edilmektedir. Bu ikiliğin farklı perspektiflerden incelenmesi, insan deneyiminin karmaşıklığını ve derinliğini anlamamıza katkıda bulunmaktadır.
Keywords
References
- Eliot, T. S. (1975). Ulysses, order and myth in selected prose of T.S. Eliot. Faber & Faber.
- Hare, R. M. (1982). Plato. Oxford University Press.
- Mann, T. (1959). The transposed heads: A legend of India. Vintage Books.
- Nussbaum, M. C. (1994). The therapy of desire: Theory and practice in Hellenistic ethics. Princeton University Press.
- Pasnau, R. (2012). Philosophy of mind and human nature. In B. Davies & E. Stump (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Thomas Aquinas (pp. 348-365). Oxford University Press.
- Plato. (1955). The Republic (D. Lee, Trans.). Penguin Books.
- Plato. (1974). Plato’s Republic (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company.
- Plato. (1993). Phaedo (D. Gallop, Trans.). Oxford University Press.
- Plato. (2003). Phaedrus (S. Scully, Trans.). Focus Publishing.
- Assmann, J. (2006). Religion and cultural memory (R. Livingstone, Trans.). Stanford University Press.
- Bussanich, J. (2005). The roots of Platonism and Vedanta: Comments on Thomas McEvilley. International Journal of Hindu Studies, 9(1/3), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.2307/20106908
- Denning-Bolle, S. J. (1987). Wisdom and dialogue in the ancient Near East. Numen, 34(2), 214–234. https://doi.org/10.2307/3270085
- Faden, G. (2011). No-self, Dogen, the Senika Doctrine, and Western views of soul. Buddhist Christian Studies, 31, 41-54. https://doi.org/10.2307/41416529
- Held, G. (1983). Parallels between the Gilgamesh epic and Plato’s Symposium. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 42(2), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.2307/544172
- Masao, A., & Dilworth, D. (1986). The problem of death in East and West: Immortality, eternal life, unbornness. The Eastern Buddhist, 19(2), 30-61. https://doi.org/10.2307/44361756
- Pruyser, P., & Luke, J. (1982). The Epic of Gilgamesh. American Imago, 39(2), 73-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/26303754
- Raine, K. (1994). India seen afar: What has India to give? India International Centre Quarterly, 21(4), 121-131. https://doi.org/10.2307/23003851
- Roochnik, D. (2003). Beautiful city: The dialectical character of Plato’s Republic. Cornell University Press.
- Sandars, N. K. (1960). The Epic of Gilgamesh. Penguin Books.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | World Languages, Literature and Culture (Other) |
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | March 18, 2025 |
| Publication Date | March 24, 2025 |
| Submission Date | February 5, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | March 11, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Issue: 65 |
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