The The Adamian Serpent in Paul Ricoeur’s Thought
Some Notes
Abstract
In this work, we present some significant points of Paul Ricoeur's thinking on the character of the serpent in the Adamic myth. Ricoeur studies this myth in depth, subjecting it to a process of demythologization that allows for a proper understanding of the symbol, in which the serpent stands out as an ambivalent character. Despite its identification as the "Other", the serpent maintains substantial affinities with man, such as its intelligence and nakedness, but it also maintains notable differences, such as its "cunning for evil" compared to human innocence. This evil is exposed by Ricoeur in successive degrees of exteriorization, leading to the analysis of the traditional identification of the serpent with the figures of the devil-demon-Satan. Throughout the theme, as Ricoeur proposes, there remains a residue of uncertainty, a remnant impossible to demythologize, which ultimately leads us to continue asking ourselves what or who the serpent really is.
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References
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