RE: Are Myths Valuable?
July 28, 2019 at 7:57 pm
(This post was last modified: July 28, 2019 at 8:15 pm by polymath257.)
Myths are a type of literature of a fictional sort. So the question is whether literature, especially fictional literature, has a truth value in terms of human emotions and our ability to learn about ourselves.
I would certainly say that literature, including myth, is *valuable* in helping us understand ourselves, our perspectives, our trials, and our successes. Story telling is one of the great qualities of our species.
But I *don't* see fictional literature as having a truth value in any usual sense. It is literally 'false', but that isn't the point. We can learn from fiction even though it is fictional.
On the other hand, it's good to keep 'fact' and 'fiction' well separated in our minds.
I also think it can be helpful to 'personify' traits as a means to explore them more fully. Myths often operate via exactly this type of personification.
I would certainly say that literature, including myth, is *valuable* in helping us understand ourselves, our perspectives, our trials, and our successes. Story telling is one of the great qualities of our species.
But I *don't* see fictional literature as having a truth value in any usual sense. It is literally 'false', but that isn't the point. We can learn from fiction even though it is fictional.
On the other hand, it's good to keep 'fact' and 'fiction' well separated in our minds.
I also think it can be helpful to 'personify' traits as a means to explore them more fully. Myths often operate via exactly this type of personification.
