"In Praise of Polytheism (On Monomythical and Polymythical Thinking)" (German: Lob des Polytheismus. Über Monomythie und Polymythie) is an essay by the German philosopher Odo Marquard, which was held as a lecture at Technische Universität Berlin in 1978. It was first published in 1979 in an anthology, and was published again in 1981 in Marquard's book Farewell to Matters of Principle (German: Abschied vom Prinzipiellen).
The essay posits that monotheism and the Enlightenment are based on "monomythical thinking",[1] meaning that they only allow one story. It also posits that the separation of powers and the individual have their origin in polytheism, and argues that people should embrace what Marquard calls "enlightened polymythical thinking"—the recognition of several stories in the modern world.[2] Marquard was a professor of philosophy and proponent of scepticism and pluralism. He belonged to a part of German philosophy that viewed the issues of modernity through political theology, which associates modern political concepts with theological concepts. Some of the points in the essay have precursors in the writings of Max Weber, Erik Peterson and Friedrich Nietzsche.
"In Praise of Polytheism" has provoked discussion and controversy in Germany. An early critic was Jacob Taubes, who associated its views with far-right politics. Several humanities scholars and theologians have responded to the essay by questioning its statements about polytheism, the individual, and pluralism.
- ^ Marquard 1989, p. 93.
- ^ Marquard 1989, p. 100.