It’s a popular idea these days that each of us must decide for ourselves what’s important, what things mean, etc. One example that’s often cited is the meaning of life, and the claim that it is especially virtuous to ascribe a creative meaning to your own, as if it has no intrinsic meaning otherwise. Another example is that you can decide your own destiny, or which romantic partner is the right person for you as if you can decide someone else’s characteristics. This isn’t really how myths work, though. It doesn’t actually even hold up to the basic scrutiny of reality.
In fact, this idea of deciding so much for yourself about that which actually has objective factors involved is a hallmark of a philosophy called existentialism, which is essentially a philosophy built around coping strategies. One idea behind it is that some points in time are actually so mundane that you really have to use your imagination to get through them.
Conversely, in myths a person is often born for a purpose, a community exists for a purpose, people are born to come together and marry, destiny strikes like lightning. Many people throughout history have seen life this way, and it can evoke a feeling of partnership with larger forces and the mystical.
──── by Lync Dalton ────
PLEASE DONATE TO WEIRDO CAMP. Do you enjoy and/or enrich yourself with Weirdo Camp and its unique, original content? Please send a donation via Paypal (see site sidebar) or to $alchemylynx on Cash App.
Want the coolest tax deduction in the world? Donate to Terra Thesis Institute.
