Description

Summary
What is a development of consciousness of modern human being, i.e. with species Homo
sapiens sapiens? The beginning step alone, how to define the inquired object in the research,
brings considerable problems and discrepancies in different conceptions and approaches, there
is the reason why it is important to answer another question at the first. How to qualify
consciousness? In the part “Theories of consciousness “, in the chapter “Formation the term” I
try to give a brief succession of particular conceptions about consciousness and a view of
contemporary theories of consciousness posted up with the critical reflection. I am interested
especially of the development so in the chapter “Development of consciousness” I summarize
the up to now findings about evolution of hominids till the top species Homo sapiens. I
mention some theoretical approaches there and critical survey of terms. In the last chapter of
the first part, I inquire after reasons to qualify the culture as potential equivalent of
consciousness. I appoint the culture as an expression of consciousness in outer world that is
comparable as well as deducible into history and pre-history. What is possible to deduce from
consciousness is possible generally to describe as products of psychic behavior (not only in
pure behavioral sense).
If I suppose, the consciousness is a complex contenting all psychic functions and changing
them qualitatively into the new integrated compact entity not to be able explained by listing
the mere subsidiary points, then also inquired equivalent must content mentioned products of
psychic behavior on a complex basis with wide range of meanings and senses. I preface the
second part of my work “Consciousness and mythology” by definition of myth that it is the
best corresponding to my conditions by its super-projective nature in the sum of cultural signs.
I hold onto Eliade’s qualification of myth as a behavioral pattern, the ideal godlike model that
a human being has to ingeminate and to fulfill to be a human being and the world not to
perish. I regard the myth as an intersection of pre-historical events into present historical time.
The looking-out of the myth development in particular cultures and its changes is this sensible
criterion for keeping in touch with development of consciousness. I choose the myths of origin
of fire from the range of mythological patterns.
The following investigation continues on widely appointed research question and it is
qualitative. I describe in the chapter “Methodology of research” both the method alone and the
limits in interpretation of myths. I use the method by Strauss and Glaser worked up for such
kind of qualitative research. The most important is to set up proper terms and then to apply
them on a surveyed phenomenon. I summarize results of open encoding – the first phase of
chosen methodology in the chapter “Myths of origin of fire”.