The Myths We Live By

The Shaping Role of Myths in Modern Society

Mary Midgley argues that myths are not outdated relics but continuing and essential aspects of human existence. Far from being confined to ancient stories or religious rituals, myths are frameworks—expressed through narratives, images, and analogies—that help individuals and societies make sense of the world. These myths inform our most basic assumptions about nature, progress, morality, and identity. Midgley demonstrates that modern secular societies are just as reliant on complex mythologies as those of the past, though the stories may now be couched in scientific or philosophical terms rather than religious ones.

The Limits and Language of Scientific Rationalism

A central critique in the book is directed at the overreach of scientific rationalism. Midgley contends that contemporary science often tries to claim exclusive authority over truth by minimizing the role of metaphor, narrative, and subjective experience. However, language, including scientific discourse, is itself deeply metaphorical. The ways we frame questions, interpret results, or define what counts as evidence are all subtly shaped by guiding myths. Midgley’s analysis reveals that scientific thinking, however rigorous, is always embedded within broader cultural narratives.

Interplay Between Science, Ethics, and Values

The book delves into the complex relationship between scientific inquiry and ethical reasoning. Midgley shows how the values guiding scientific progress—ideas of objectivity, competition, or survival—emerge from deeper societal myths. For example, the myth of unending progress can drive both technological innovations and environmental crises. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing these underlying stories to clarify ethical debates on issues like animal rights, environmentalism, and technological intervention. Understanding the mythic dimension enables more responsible and reflective engagement with social and scientific dilemmas.

Challenging Reductionism in Human Understanding

Midgley challenges the reductionist tendencies in much of modern thought, resisting the view that complex phenomena (like consciousness or society) can be entirely explained in terms of their parts. She highlights how such reductionism is itself a product of mythic thinking—the myth that everything complicated can be reduced to its simplest components. Instead, Midgley advocates for a pluralist approach, valuing different forms of knowledge and explanation. She shows that genuine understanding often requires integrating scientific facts with insights from literature, history, and philosophy.

Throughout the book, Midgley calls on readers to become more conscious of the enabling and constraining power of the myths they live by. By acknowledging that myths are inescapable but also malleable, individuals and societies can choose which stories best serve human flourishing and coexistence. Her work is both a critique of blind faith in reason and a call to embrace, update, and scrutinize the narratives that guide us. In doing so, Midgley offers a richer, more humane philosophy—one attentive to both reason and imagination in shaping our collective destiny.