The Role of Symbol and Myth in Paul Ricoeur’s Hermeneutics Analysis of Evil

Authors
Fattan Dehghani 1
Ali Naghi Baqershahi 2
1 Imam Khomeini International University,
2 Department of Philosophy, Imam Khomeini International University
10.61186/mi.5.2.447
Abstract
This article explores Paul Ricoeur’s approach to the concept of evil, analyzing its symbolic meaning within various myths through the lens of philosophical and theological interpretation. The study seeks to answer fundamental questions: Where does evil originate? How can the symbolic interpretation of myths contribute to human moral growth? Is it possible to distill the essence of primitive symbols and transfer their meaning into philosophical insight, thereby bridging the semantic gap in a modern world dominated by scientism?

Ricoeur argues that evil resists direct and simple linguistic categorization. Instead, he engages with multiple intellectual traditions—mythological thought, rationalism, Gnosticism, theodicy, and fragmented theology—crafting a layered, evolving analysis of evil.
Keywords
Hermeneutics
Ricoeur
Evil
Myth
Symbol
Guilt
Moral Responsibility
داونهاور، برنارد، و دیوید دلاور (1394)‏، دانشنامه‎ ‎فلسفه‎ ‎استنفورد: پل ریکور، ترجمه ابوالفضل توکلی شاندیز، چاپ اول، تهران: نشر ققنوس.
داونهاور، برنارد، و دیوید دلاور (1394)‏، دانشنامه‎ ‎فلسفه‎ ‎استنفورد: پل ریکور، ترجمه ابوالفضل توکلی شاندیز، چاپ اول، تهران: نشر ققنوس.
دریابندری، نجف (1394)، افسانۀ اسطوره، چاپ دوم، تهران: نشر کارنامه.
دریابندری، نجف (1394)، افسانۀ اسطوره، چاپ دوم، تهران: نشر کارنامه.
ریکور، پل (1378)، زندگی در دنیای متن، چاپ دوم، تهران: نشر مرکز.
ریکور، پل (1378)، زندگی در دنیای متن، چاپ دوم، تهران: نشر مرکز.
ریکور، پل (1398)، شر، چالشی برای فلسفه و الهیات، ترجمه فرشید فرهمندنیا، چاپ اول، تهران: نشر آسنی.
ریکور، پل (1398)، شر، چالشی برای فلسفه و الهیات، ترجمه فرشید فرهمندنیا، چاپ اول، تهران: نشر آسنی.
ریکور، پل (1368)، رسالت هرمنوتیک، ترجمه فرهاد پور، مراد و اباذری، یوسف، مجله فرهنگ، شماره 4 و 5.
ریکور، پل (1368)، رسالت هرمنوتیک، ترجمه فرهاد پور، مراد و اباذری، یوسف، مجله فرهنگ، شماره 4 و 5.
ریکور، پل (1387)‏، هرمنوتیک مدرن، گزینه جستارها، ترجمه بابک احمدی، مهران مهاجر و محمد نبوی، چاپ سیزدهم، تهران: نشر مرکز.
ریکور، پل (1387)‏، هرمنوتیک مدرن، گزینه جستارها، ترجمه بابک احمدی، مهران مهاجر و محمد نبوی، چاپ سیزدهم، تهران: نشر مرکز.
ستاری، جلال (1394)، اسطوره و رمز در اندیشه میرچا الیاده: جهان اسطوره شناسی ۶. چاپ پنجم، تهران، نشر مرکز.
ستاری، جلال (1394)، اسطوره و رمز در اندیشه میرچا الیاده: جهان اسطوره شناسی ۶. چاپ پنجم، تهران، نشر مرکز.
ستاری، جلال (1399)، جهان اسطوره شناسی 11: آیین و اسطوره، چاپ سوم، تهران: نشر مرکز.
ستاری، جلال (1399)، جهان اسطوره شناسی 11: آیین و اسطوره، چاپ سوم، تهران: نشر مرکز.
ضیمران، محمد (1395)، گذر از‎ ‎جهان‎ ‎اسطوره‎ ‎به‎ ‎فلسفه، چاپ پنجم، تهران: نشر هرمس.
ضیمران، محمد (1395)، گذر از‎ ‎جهان‎ ‎اسطوره‎ ‎به‎ ‎فلسفه، چاپ پنجم، تهران: نشر هرمس.
کمپیل، جوزف (1385)، قهرمان هزار چهره، ترجمه شادی خسروپناه، چاپ اول، مشهد: نشر گل‌آفتاب.
کمپیل، جوزف (1385)، قهرمان هزار چهره، ترجمه شادی خسروپناه، چاپ اول، مشهد: نشر گل‌آفتاب.
کوپر، جی. سی (۱۳۹۹)، فرهنگ نمادهای آیینی، ترجمه رقیه بهزادی، چاپ اول، تهران: نشر علمی.
کوپر، جی. سی (۱۳۹۹)، فرهنگ نمادهای آیینی، ترجمه رقیه بهزادی، چاپ اول، تهران: نشر علمی.
گروندن، ژان (۱۳۹۳)، هرمنوتیک، ترجمه محمدرضا ابوالقاسمی، چاپ اول، تهران، نشر ماهی.
گروندن، ژان (۱۳۹۳)، هرمنوتیک، ترجمه محمدرضا ابوالقاسمی، چاپ اول، تهران، نشر ماهی.
واعظی، احمد (1393)، درآمدی‎ ‎بر‎ ‎هرمنوتیک، چاپ هفتم، تهران: پژوهشگاه فرهنگ و اندیشه اسلامی.
واعظی، احمد (1393)، درآمدی‎ ‎بر‎ ‎هرمنوتیک، چاپ هفتم، تهران: پژوهشگاه فرهنگ و اندیشه اسلامی.
Aspray, B. (2022), Ricoeur at the Limits of Philosophy: God, Creation, and Evil. 1st published, United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press. [DOI:10.1017/9781009186735]
Aspray, B. (2022), Ricoeur at the Limits of Philosophy: God, Creation, and Evil. 1st published, United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press. [DOI:10.1017/9781009186735]
Atkins, K. (n.d.), https://iep.utm.edu/. https://iep.utm.edu/ricoeur/
Atkins, K. (n.d.), https://iep.utm.edu/. https://iep.utm.edu/ricoeur/
Atkins, K. (n.d.), https://www.britanica.com/topic/Christianity/God-the-Father#ref926957
Atkins, K. (n.d.), https://www.britanica.com/topic/Christianity/God-the-Father#ref926957
Davidson, S. (2020), A Companion to Ricoeur's The Symbolism of Evil. Lexinton Books, Fortress Academia, ProQuest Ebook Central.
Davidson, S. (2020), A Companion to Ricoeur's The Symbolism of Evil. Lexinton Books, Fortress Academia, ProQuest Ebook Central.
Dutra, Victor Hugo de Castro, V. (2012), Facing Evil: A Propaedeutics of the concept of Evil in Paul Ricoeur. Thesis
Dutra, Victor Hugo de Castro, V. (2012), Facing Evil: A Propaedeutics of the concept of Evil in Paul Ricoeur. Thesis
Gregor, B. (2023), Ricoeur at the Limits of Philosophy: God, Creation, and Evil. The Heythrop Journal.
Gregor, B. (2023), Ricoeur at the Limits of Philosophy: God, Creation, and Evil. The Heythrop Journal.
Hick, J. (1967), THE Symbolism of evil, by Paul Ricoeur. Theology today Journal.
Hick, J. (1967), THE Symbolism of evil, by Paul Ricoeur. Theology today Journal.
Joshua, J. (2022, December 12), www.worldhistory.org. www.worldhistory.org/fa/1-10151/
Joshua, J. (2022, December 12), www.worldhistory.org. www.worldhistory.org/fa/1-10151/
Law, D. (2007), Facing the Challenge of Evil, Expository times Journal. [DOI:10.1177/00145246081190111107]
Law, D. (2007), Facing the Challenge of Evil, Expository times Journal. [DOI:10.1177/00145246081190111107]
Rasmussen, D. (1971), Mythic-Symbolic language and philosophical anthropology: A Constructive Interpretion of the Thought of Paul Ricoeur. 1st published, Netherland, The Hague Press.
Rasmussen, D. (1971), Mythic-Symbolic language and philosophical anthropology: A Constructive Interpretion of the Thought of Paul Ricoeur. 1st published, Netherland, The Hague Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1969), The Symbolism of Evil. (E. Buchanan, Trans.) 1st published, Boston, Beacon Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1969), The Symbolism of Evil. (E. Buchanan, Trans.) 1st published, Boston, Beacon Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1966), Freedom and Nature: The Voluntary and Involuntary. (E. V.Kohak, Trans.) 1st published, Evanston, Northwestern University Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1966), Freedom and Nature: The Voluntary and Involuntary. (E. V.Kohak, Trans.) 1st published, Evanston, Northwestern University Press.
Ricoeur, P. (2000), The Fallibale Man. New York, USA. Fordham University Press.
Ricoeur, P. (2000), The Fallibale Man. New York, USA. Fordham University Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1970), Freud and philosophy: an Essay on Interpration. Translated by Denis Savage. 1st published, USA, Yale university press.
Ricoeur, P. (1970), Freud and philosophy: an Essay on Interpration. Translated by Denis Savage. 1st published, USA, Yale university press.
Ricoeur, P. (1974), The Conflict of Interpretations. 1st published, Evanston, Northwestern Universty Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1974), The Conflict of Interpretations. 1st published, Evanston, Northwestern Universty Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1985), Evil, a challenge to philosophy and theology. Journal of the American academy of religion, Llll(4), 635-650. [DOI:10.1093/jaarel/LIII.4.635]
Ricoeur, P. (1985), Evil, a challenge to philosophy and theology. Journal of the American academy of religion, Llll(4), 635-650. [DOI:10.1093/jaarel/LIII.4.635]
Ricoeur, P. (1992), Oneself as another. Translated by Kathleen Blamey, 1st published, Chicago and London, The university of Chicago press.
Ricoeur, P. (1992), Oneself as another. Translated by Kathleen Blamey, 1st published, Chicago and London, The university of Chicago press.
Ricoeur, P. (1995), Figuring the sacred: Religion, Narrative, and Imagination. Translated by D. Pellauer, 1st published, Minneapolis, USA: Fortress Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1995), Figuring the sacred: Religion, Narrative, and Imagination. Translated by D. Pellauer, 1st published, Minneapolis, USA: Fortress Press.
Stiver, D. R. (2012), Ricoeur and Theology, 1st published, London, Bloomsbury.
Stiver, D. R. (2012), Ricoeur and Theology, 1st published, London, Bloomsbury.
Dauenhauer, B. and Pellauer, D. (2015), Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Paul Ricoeur. 1st Published, Tehran, Quqnoos Press.
Dauenhauer, B. and Pellauer, D. (2015), Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Paul Ricoeur. 1st Published, Tehran, Quqnoos Press.
Daryabandri, N. (2015), The Tale of the Myth. 2nd Published, Tehran, Karnameh Press.
Daryabandri, N. (2015), The Tale of the Myth. 2nd Published, Tehran, Karnameh Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1999), Life in the World of the Text. 2nd Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1999), Life in the World of the Text. 2nd Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Ricoeur, P. (2019), Evil a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology. 1st Published, Tehran, Asni Press.
Ricoeur, P. (2019), Evil a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology. 1st Published, Tehran, Asni Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1989), The Task of Hermeneutics; in Heidegger and Modern Philosophy,. Ed, Michael Murray, Yale, 1178, PP. 141-160.
Ricoeur, P. (1989), The Task of Hermeneutics; in Heidegger and Modern Philosophy,. Ed, Michael Murray, Yale, 1178, PP. 141-160.
Ricoeur, P. (1999), Modern Hermeneutics. 13 th Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1999), Modern Hermeneutics. 13 th Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Sattari, J. (2015), Myths and Symbols in The Thought of The Mircea Eliade: World of Mythology Vol. 6. 5th Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Sattari, J. (2015), Myths and Symbols in The Thought of The Mircea Eliade: World of Mythology Vol. 6. 5th Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Sattari, J. (2015), Ritual and Myth: World of Mytholy Vol. 11. 3th Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Sattari, J. (2015), Ritual and Myth: World of Mytholy Vol. 11. 3th Published, Tehran, Markaz Press.
Zeimaran, M. (2016), Passing From the World of Mythology to Philosophy. 5th Published, Tehran, Hermes Press.
Zeimaran, M. (2016), Passing From the World of Mythology to Philosophy. 5th Published, Tehran, Hermes Press.
Campbell, J. (2006), The Hero With The Thousand Faces. 1st Published, Mashhad, Gole Aftab Press.
Campbell, J. (2006), The Hero With The Thousand Faces. 1st Published, Mashhad, Gole Aftab Press.
Coopr, J.C. (2012), An illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Traditional Symbols, 1st Published, Tehran, Elmi Press.
Coopr, J.C. (2012), An illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Traditional Symbols, 1st Published, Tehran, Elmi Press.
Grondin, J. (2014), Hermeneutic. 1st Published, Tehran, Mahi Press.
Grondin, J. (2014), Hermeneutic. 1st Published, Tehran, Mahi Press.
Vaezi, A. (2014), Introduction to Hermeneutic. 7th Published, Tehran, Research of Islamic Culture and Thought Press.
Vaezi, A. (2014), Introduction to Hermeneutic. 7th Published, Tehran, Research of Islamic Culture and Thought Press.