Myths We Live By

In Myths We Live By, philosopher Mary Midgley examines the role of myths and metaphors in shaping human thought, particularly in science, religion, and culture. She challenges the notion that modern scientific thinking has moved beyond mythology, arguing instead that myths remain central to how humans understand the world. Midgley investigates several dominant myths of our time, including the idea of social atomism, the machine model of nature, and the myth of omnicompetent science. Throughout the book, she demonstrates how these underlying narratives influence fields from evolutionary biology to artificial intelligence. The book moves through various interconnected topics, from environmental ethics to consciousness, showing how mythical thinking structures debates in these areas. Midgley draws on examples from history, literature, and contemporary scientific discourse to support her analysis. This philosophical work presents a fundamental questioning of the stories humans tell themselves about progress, rationality, and the relationship between mind and matter. The text suggests that acknowledging and understanding our dependence on myths is crucial for addressing modern social and environmental challenges.

Readers value Midgley's clear analysis of how myths and metaphors shape scientific and cultural thinking. Many highlight her critiques of reductionism and her arguments about the limitations of scientific materialism. Likes: - Accessibility of complex philosophical concepts - Strong arguments against genetic determinism - Clear connections between scientific myths and social problems - Effective use of examples and analogies Dislikes: - Some sections become repetitive - Arguments occasionally meander - A few readers found her criticism of Richard Dawkins overly harsh - Writing style can be dense in places Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (196 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (28 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Makes complex philosophical ideas digestible without oversimplifying" - Goodreads reviewer "Her takedown of reductionist thinking is precise and needed" - Amazon reviewer "Gets bogged down in academic language at times" - Goodreads reviewer

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🔹 Mary Midgley wrote "Myths We Live By" at age 84, demonstrating her commitment to philosophical discourse well into her later years. She continued writing and publishing until her death at age 99. 🔹 The book challenges the myth of scientific omniscience, arguing that science, while valuable, cannot answer all human questions and should not be treated as a complete worldview. 🔹 Midgley's work directly confronts prominent scientists like Richard Dawkins, particularly criticizing his concept of "selfish genes" as a misleading metaphor that has been taken too literally. 🔹 The author developed many of her philosophical perspectives during World War II at Oxford, where women dominated philosophical discussions while male students were away at war. 🔹 The book's exploration of myths builds on Carl Jung's work, but takes a unique approach by examining how scientific concepts often function as modern myths in contemporary society.