You are viewing an obsolete version of the DU website which is no longer supported by the Administrators. Visit The New DU.
Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Reply #1: Has any human society ever existed without myth? [View All]

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Religion/Theology Donate to DU
Jim__ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-02-06 11:13 AM
Response to Original message
1. Has any human society ever existed without myth?
Edited on Wed Aug-02-06 11:16 AM by Jim__
My guess is no, but I stand ready to be corrected on that. But, if no society ever has, then, myth may be necessary for the existence of society. Nietzsche said something to the effect that error may be necessary for life. I think myth may be necessary to bind human society. The reality of life, of what's going to happen, may be dim enough that rational beings wouldn't bother if they actually faced up to the starkness of reality. Myth provides the illusion of the possibility of something better.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
  -Myth has outlived its utility cosmik debris  Aug-02-06 11:07 AM   #0 
  - Has any human society ever existed without myth?  Jim__   Aug-02-06 11:13 AM   #1 
  - That's a good point  Orrex   Aug-02-06 11:18 AM   #2 
  - To further my analogy  cosmik debris   Aug-02-06 11:29 AM   #5 
     - By teaching critical thinking  Orrex   Aug-02-06 11:38 AM   #6 
        - Wouldn't that eliminate myth  cosmik debris   Aug-02-06 11:47 AM   #9 
           - I don't think so, at least not automatically  Orrex   Aug-02-06 12:07 PM   #12 
  - I'm no history expert  cosmik debris   Aug-02-06 11:20 AM   #3 
  - Do you think that creation of myth is the dividing line between humans  greyl   Aug-03-06 12:42 AM   #16 
     - It is impossible to tell  cosmik debris   Aug-03-06 06:46 AM   #19 
  - Look at your definition of myth.  igil   Aug-02-06 11:29 AM   #4 
  - I declined to define  cosmik debris   Aug-02-06 11:41 AM   #7 
  - self delete.  valerief   Aug-02-06 11:42 AM   #8 
  - You need to read 'The Power of Myth'  China_cat   Aug-02-06 11:55 AM   #10 
  - I have read that  cosmik debris   Aug-02-06 12:02 PM   #11 
     - If you'd really read Campbell  China_cat   Aug-02-06 12:31 PM   #13 
        - I beg your pardon  cosmik debris   Aug-02-06 12:39 PM   #14 
           - No, but it would help if you understood Campbell  China_cat   Aug-02-06 01:11 PM   #15 
              - Have you read past page 5? ;) nt  greyl   Aug-03-06 12:49 AM   #17 
  - Most have, yes.  greyl   Aug-03-06 12:53 AM   #18 
  - I think myth has outlived it's usefulness.  ozone_man   Aug-03-06 10:57 AM   #20 
  - Please don't get the idea that I am only talking about religion  cosmik debris   Aug-03-06 11:46 AM   #21 
     - I don't need an Earth mother myth either  ozone_man   Aug-03-06 04:24 PM   #22 
     - Ah, ok. :)  greyl   Aug-04-06 03:49 AM   #26 
        - I like that.  cosmik debris   Aug-04-06 07:40 AM   #27 
  - Maybe You're Right  Southpawkicker   Aug-03-06 05:54 PM   #23 
  - Once again you missed the point  cosmik debris   Aug-03-06 06:46 PM   #24 
     - Oh, I Understand You Perfectly Cosmik  Southpawkicker   Aug-03-06 09:07 PM   #25 
  - Not all myths are religious in nature.  Odin2005   Aug-04-06 08:02 AM   #28 
  - I agree (see post 21)  cosmik debris   Aug-04-06 08:49 AM   #29 
     - Manifest Destiny is perhaps the worst of myths.  ozone_man   Aug-04-06 01:50 PM   #30 
        - Everyone has their favorite Rockefeller horror story  cosmik debris   Aug-04-06 02:49 PM   #31 
        - Well, Christianity also supported Manifest Destiny.  Zhade   Aug-04-06 09:28 PM   #32 
           - That's right.  ozone_man   Aug-04-06 11:05 PM   #33 
  - I haven't read Campbell,  neebob   Aug-06-06 09:27 AM   #34 
  - Devil's Advocate position  cosmik debris   Aug-06-06 11:01 AM   #35 
     - I don't see how more sensible societal goals  neebob   Aug-06-06 01:54 PM   #38 
        - 15 yard penalty for illegal substitution :)  cosmik debris   Aug-06-06 03:34 PM   #39 
           - Realities, goals, needs, values -  neebob   Aug-06-06 04:28 PM   #40 
              - sorry, I didn't mean to frustrate you.  cosmik debris   Aug-06-06 04:41 PM   #41 
                 - Thank you for that nice surprise.  neebob   Aug-07-06 08:50 AM   #43 
  - Rationalism might be a myth  kwassa   Aug-06-06 12:05 PM   #36 
     - I don’t know how to take that.  cosmik debris   Aug-06-06 12:59 PM   #37 
     - If They Get Food  Southpawkicker   Aug-06-06 07:48 PM   #42 
        - Or even a wrong belief, if it does a good thing?  kwassa   Aug-07-06 09:01 AM   #44 
           - The difference is  cosmik debris   Aug-07-06 09:40 AM   #45 
           - I don't think that there is any relevant connection  kwassa   Aug-07-06 09:55 AM   #46 
              - The myth of nationalism  cosmik debris   Aug-07-06 10:32 AM   #47 
                 - Huh?  Southpawkicker   Aug-07-06 05:20 PM   #50 
                 - Nationalism isn't a myth  kwassa   Aug-08-06 10:37 AM   #51 
                    - It was not my idea  cosmik debris   Aug-08-06 11:05 AM   #52 
                    - I am disagreeing with you.  kwassa   Aug-08-06 07:50 PM   #54 
                    - Yes, Nationalism is a myth.  Odin2005   Aug-08-06 07:59 PM   #55 
           - A Very Good Point  Southpawkicker   Aug-07-06 05:17 PM   #49 
     - Rationalism  Orrex   Aug-07-06 11:52 AM   #48 
        - good point, rationalism is being viciously attacked by postmodernist...  Odin2005   Aug-08-06 07:48 PM   #53 
 

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Religion/Theology Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC