Towards an Architecture of Mythos: Lucian Blaga and Utopian Pessimism

Abstract This article explores the concept of mythos in Lucian Blaga’s philosophy and its potential for constructing a metaphysics that embraces mystery and transcends the limitations of pure reason. It begins by establishing the foundation of mythos in the Buddhist concept of “Maya” and the two truths doctrine, highlighting the illusory nature of perceived reality and the limitations of human knowledge. It then delves into Blaga’s philosophy, where “mystery” is a central category, and the Great Anonymous represents the ultimate, unknowable source of existence. By integrating Blaga’s ideas with notions of cognitive biases and Jacobo Grinberg-Zylberbaum’s synergic theory, the article argues for a “metaphysics of mythos.” This metaphysics recognizes the limitations of human reason and proposes an approach to understanding a reality that incorporates mythical and poetic thinking, opening new avenues for philosophical inquiry beyond the confines of traditional, logic-centered metaphysics. The article concludes by suggesting that artists, as creators of mythos, play a vital role in shaping this new metaphysics and expanding the boundaries of human understanding.