Category: Understanding

Where Can We Find Modern Mythology?

Building a mythology is a way that we can make sense of the world around us. What does a modern mythology look like?

The ancient Greeks used mythology to explain everyday life. The sun, for example, was actually the fiery wheel of a great chariot that Apollo rode across the sky each day.

Any number of gods, demi-gods, and heroes made up this mythology, much of which can still be found today. The labors of Hercules, the infighting of the Greek pantheon of gods, or the story of the Trojan horse live on in today’s society. There are translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey from Homer that are still in print, for instance, or the hugely popular Percy Jackson stories from author Rick Riordon, recently adapted to a Disney TV series.

And it is not just the Greeks, of course. The Romans, which borrowed heavily from the Greeks for their own mythology, were also influential. The names of the planets and satellites in our solar system largely come from these mythological sources. Jupiter, the leader of the Roman gods, is the name given to the largest planet. The red planet is named Mars, after the fiery Roman god of war.

Each culture has their own mythology. Other notable ones from history include the Norse, Egyptians, Japanese, and so on.

So then what makes up our modern mythology? What are the stories that we tell ourselves that allow us to make sense of our current world and the challenges and victories we experience? What in our society will future historians point to as the equivalent to the mythologies of yesteryear?

Related questions: What are the benefits of fiction? What role do sports play in our society? History or current events? What is art? How do you adopt new ideas?

Is More Knowledge Always Better?

Gaining knowledge is what has helped us succeed as a species. Are there circumstances, though, where ignorance is preferred?

Across the planet, different species fit a particular environmental niche. The native plants or animals tend to be adapted for the environment, to stay warm in cold temperatures, or have long necks to reach the tall trees, and so on.

Humans are, on paper, a middling species, at best. We’re not the strongest, or the fastest. By almost every measure, there is some other type of life form that is better.

One of the few exceptions has to do with gaining and retaining knowledge. We puzzle out why things work the way they do. That has led to a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the world and how it works.

And once we learn something, we share it with others. We write it down, or speak it aloud as much and as far as we can. That combination, figuring stuff out and then telling everyone about it, has allowed our species to spread across the globe and thrive like few other animal species have.

Is knowledge, though, always a good thing? Once learned, it is not possible to unlearn something. Are there instances where knowing something is objectively, or subjectively, a bad thing?

For example, would we be better off not knowing how to make atomic weapons that could destroy the world several times over? On a more personal level, does it serve any benefit to learn that your co-worker makes significantly more money than you do? Or that your partner cheated on you years ago?

Can you think of things, from your own life or your imagination, where you have regretted learning something? Is more knowledge always a good thing?

Related questions: Does knowledge have inherent value? What can you learn from loss? Is faster better?

Know Or Don’t Know?

Do you think you know more than you don’t know? Is it better to know something rather than being ignorant? How often are you in the dark?

Share why if you wish.

Know Or Don't Know?
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How Can Humans Become More Humane?

Human history is filled with aggression, violence, betrayal, greed, and other negative acts. How can we become more humane?

While there are plenty of instances of people treating each other with grace and dignity, the opposite is alarmingly common. And all too often, the underlying cause is suspicion and mistrust of the other.

It is easy to understand bad behavior when life and death is on the line. If my family is going to starve, I might steal your food to feed them. That may not be right, but it makes sense.

However, what do we make of more abstract differences? Why do we attack or enslave someone else because their skin color is different from ours? Or they pray to a different god? Or they speak a different language?

There may be an evolutionary cause to our behavior. A person who mistrusted others in different tribal groups may have been more likely to survive into adulthood and have offspring. We may be hardwired that way.

Now however, that same behavior is counterproductive at best, and actively destructive at worst. We can see divisions growing between groups for the simplest of reasons. People are insulted and attacked online, which ruins the experience for everyone. Misogyny, homophobia, racism all run rampant in today’s society.

Is there any way we can improve things? Can we train ourselves to treat others with respect and compassion, even if we don’t know them? Can we overcome our baser instincts and be more humane? On a personal level, what do you do if you suspect you might be succumbing to your darker nature?

Related questions: How can we encourage meaningful conversation? Why do we hate? How can you love someone who does something you hate? Why does social media often bring out the worst in us?

How Can We Encourage Curiosity?

Curiosity is an important trait to have for any healthy human. How can we make sure that we are as curious as possible?

There are many ways that curiosity helps us, and there are also ways that a lack of it can hurt us.

For instance, being curious about our environment is how we learn as children. We wonder about about the things around us, and that helps us with motor skills, language, reasoning, and other developmental skills.

It also helps us continue our education, both formally and informally. Formally through school and from teachers, and informally as we read on our own and in the hobbies we pursue.

To see how a lack of curiosity can hurt us, look no further than today’s political climate. Most people are content in echo feedback chambers, listening to opinions that mirror their own. They seek out news outlets that confirm their own viewpoint, and may even choose friends the same way.

One way out of this problem is to be curious about people you disagree with. Do you dismiss them out of hand, or do you wonder why they have another opinion? Being curious about something different — different religion, political party, skin color, native language,  and so on — allows us to be more understanding.

Curiosity can also lead to better mental health. As we age, learning about things you don’t already know keeps our brains flexible. It can help our own health as well as helping society at large.

So those are some of the benefits. But what are the specific methods we can employ to achieve these positive outcomes? What can we do in our everyday lives to encourage curiosity?

Related questions: How do you learn? What does it mean to be healthy? How do you adopt new ideas? How can we maintain wonder?