Język mitu czy język wartości? (uwagi na marginesie “Obecności mitu” Leszka Kołakowskiego)

Kolakowski opposes science and myth, conditional empirical reality, the realm of science and unconditional non-empirical reality, the domain of metaphysics and myth. The world of human experience owes its sense to mythical reality. Only it can satisfy the human need for purpose and order in the world, sense and value in human activities, and the permanence of values. This attitude is pragmatic and irrational. One can, however, adopt a rational attitude, requiring that statements be rationally justified, adopting a classical understanding of truth (as conformity between language and reality). Statements about value then admit of cognitive certainty, which, to be sure, transcends that of science, but is founded upon experience, intuitive ethical experience. Statements about values are also entitled to truthfulness (or falsehood). This understanding of value, irrespective of the existence or nonexistence of an absolute reality, guarantees the meaningfulness of life and human activity.