The Barthesian Myth in the Language About the Sartrean Other

The Barthesian Myth in the Language About the Sartrean Other
M.A. Philosophy (October 2012)
Marie Abelyn C. Kwe

Abstract

This work elucidates on the notion of the Barthesian myth, which aside from a being credible vantage point in the discussion of the problem of meaning, also is relevant in terms of how it is applicable to a variety of phenomena.

This research examines the occurrence of Barthesian mythical speech in the relationship of the 1 and the Other. Such a mythological language is further given philosophical grounding, with the inclusion of an ontological perspective that provides the playground or setting for it. The author uses Jean Paul Satre's ontology contained in his work Being and Nothingness, because it is in the Sartrean notion of Other that one finds the Self at a distance from the Other. This distance is not only a physical distance, but a distance of their respective consciousnesses that cannot be surpassed. This ontological setting (of the Self and Other) is one that admits or enables the mythical speech of the Other, as a product of a Self-centred language. It is in this sense that the author claims that the Barthesian myth is indeed located in the speech of the Sartrean Other. As such, it furthers the Sartrean discussion of the ontological relationship of the Self and Other, towards its implications in language. Consequently, it also examines the notion of text as a linguistic remedy, for this inclination towards the mythical speech about the Other.