For Explanation of the Symbol

Abstract

The author's English summary from the article:

Key words: symbol, explanation, viewpoint.

Symbol is a quite complex and specific phenomenon. It could be found in any spheres of life and activity of an individual: in art, religion, literature, science and everyday life. The symbol has the history of many thousands of years. It emerged in result of cognition of the surrounding world by the humans. Each symbol is an image and each image, to certain extent, is a symbol, though, the symbol, as a category, spreads beyond its limits and comprises something indivisibly merged with the image, though not equal to it. Subject image and deep sense are two poles of the symbol structure. Primarily, the symbol exists as such and designation of something with the symbol is the secondary phenomenon.

It provides movement from specific image to general, ideal. Symbol is based on the vivid observation of reality, though it is not a direct imitation, direct reflection thereof. It drives our attention to the depths of the events and things and shows their internal, substantial part. Contents and meaning of the symbols is not given once and forever. It, as a vivid structure, remains as such, though being in the permanent process of formation. Known symbols acquire new values and interests. The symbol could not be „decoded“ only by the power of mind, simple definition. It does not exist in a form f some rational formula. Symbol, with its substance, is the dialogue pheno- menon and its valid existence, without perceiver is impossible.

It requires feeling, “penetration” and explanation. Each interpretation of the symbol, itself, is the rationalized symbol, to certain extent. Though, it should be noted that in definition of the symbol care should be taken as dialo- gue, implemented through in-depth understanding of its contents, could be destroyed in the event of its improper interpretation. Thus, it could be said that the symbol is a specific many-functional phenomenon. Simul- taneously, it is the instrument for cognition of the world, reality and expresses the fundamental method. The symbol links human mind with the cultural life. It accumulates the life experience of certain social community and at the same time, it fulfills the communication-information fun- ction, as it gas capacity of mutual exchange of the ideas and values, at the levels of as internal, also inter-cultural contacts.

The symbol is able to reveal many such aspects, which are unavaila- ble for the other means. Consequently, the symbol is some kind of style of thinking as well.

Published in the journal Sjani, vol. 12 (2011), pp. 244–255. Open the paper