Can mythology be a form of critical theory in the service of right? From the standpoint of an Enlightenment tradition, the answer is no. Mythology is characterised by irrationality, and works to mystify reality, whilst critical theory is set against the irrational, its entire force directed at demystifying reality. In a post-Enlightenment tradition, reason, including critical reason, may take mythological form—indeed, there is identity as much as non-identity between the two forms, a mimetic relationship in which the rational cannot be freed of the mythological any more than myth can stand outside reason. However, the work of critical theory remains essentially the same. Whether in the form of rational myth or mythological reason, critical theory must remain in the service of right in the sense of ‘the true’, and thus remains an enlightenment project. In contrast, the aim of this essay is to put forward a model of critical theory that is sympathetic with mythology, not only in its form, but also in the work that it does, which is not in the service of the true but of the good. That model is Peter Fitzpatrick’s seminal work of jurisprudence, The Mythology of Modern Law (1992). After addressing how Fitzpatrick’s Mythology is in the form of a negative mythology, the essay elaborates the critical work of such mythological critical theory. In the case of Mythology , that work involves creating the conditions for a mythological legal pluralism, through the decolonisation of law.

中文翻译：

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负面神话

神话可以成为一种为权利服务的批判理论形式吗？从启蒙传统的角度来看，答案是否定的。神话以非理性为特征，致力于使现实神秘化，而批判理论则反对非理性，其全部力量都旨在使现实神秘化。在后启蒙运动的传统中，理性，包括批判理性，可能采取神话形式——事实上，两种形式之间既有同一性也有非同一性，一种模仿关系，在这种关系中，理性不能从神话中解脱出来，神话可以站在理性之外。然而，批判理论的工作基本上保持不变。无论是以理性神话还是神话理性的形式，批判理论必须始终为“真实”意义上的权利服务，因此仍然是一个启蒙项目。相比之下，本文的目的是提出一个批判理论的模型，它不仅在形式上，而且在它所做的工作上都与神话有共鸣，这不是为真实服务，而是为神话服务。好的。该模型是彼得·菲茨帕特里克 (Peter Fitzpatrick) 的开创性法理学著作《现代法的神话》(The Mythology of Modern Law，1992 年)。在论述了菲茨帕特里克的神话是如何以否定神话的形式出现之后，本文详细阐述了这种神话批判理论的批判工作。就 Mythology 而言，这项工作涉及通过法律的非殖民化为神话般的法律多元化创造条件。这不是为真服务，而是为善服务。该模型是彼得·菲茨帕特里克 (Peter Fitzpatrick) 的开创性法理学著作《现代法的神话》(The Mythology of Modern Law，1992 年)。在论述了菲茨帕特里克的神话是如何以否定神话的形式出现之后，本文详细阐述了这种神话批判理论的批判工作。就 Mythology 而言，这项工作涉及通过法律的非殖民化为神话般的法律多元化创造条件。这不是为真服务，而是为善服务。该模型是彼得·菲茨帕特里克 (Peter Fitzpatrick) 的开创性法理学著作《现代法的神话》(The Mythology of Modern Law，1992 年)。在论述了菲茨帕特里克的神话是如何以否定神话的形式出现之后，本文详细阐述了这种神话批判理论的批判工作。就 Mythology 而言，这项工作涉及通过法律的非殖民化为神话般的法律多元化创造条件。