Rituals: Philosophical Perspectives and Normative Aspects
Abstract
We use the word “rite” or “ritual” especially in relation to religion and myth to indicate those aspects of it that make religious experience possible in the mystical dimension. Rituals are presented as sets of acts or normatively codified practices that form cultural patterns of a given society and are a representation of the cultural values and standards. They are fundamental for the institutionalization of roles, the formation of social identity and social cohesion. We’ll sketch several philosophical perspectives to show conceptual differences and theoretical views concerning the notion of ritual and its normative aspects.
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