May-06-2010, 09:39 AM (UTC)
I'm bumping this older topic with something I thought worth mentioning.
I'm reading this book atm called "An Unnatural Order"by Jim Mason. Very good book, I highly recommend it, it investigated the question why humans seem intent on destroying the natural world around us.
One of the points raised in the book is how much the human mind depends on animals, and one of the points raised in that context is the myths surrounding mythical creatures.
Mason claims that humans invented animals such as dragons, werewolves etc. to represent the power of nature. When people lived in a natural world, the nature around them was so overwhelming and intimidating that they needed to give expression to that fear, so they created these creatures which are more dangerous and mystical then any existing animal. They embody the intimidation and fear humans feel towards nature.
He also says that in our modern age, we have done the same when we invented these myths about space aliens. We live nowadays surrounded by technology which most of us can't begin to understand, and which is capable of destroying us and everything around us. Just like nature could be overwhelming to the primal man, so this technology stirs a fear in us so we have invented mythical beings who always have technology which is more advanced then our own, and who can judge and destroy us with it.
Fascinating, isn't it?! That makes so much sense! I have always wondered why cultures the world over have invented dragons, even without any contact between them whatsoever.
I'm reading this book atm called "An Unnatural Order"by Jim Mason. Very good book, I highly recommend it, it investigated the question why humans seem intent on destroying the natural world around us.
One of the points raised in the book is how much the human mind depends on animals, and one of the points raised in that context is the myths surrounding mythical creatures.
Mason claims that humans invented animals such as dragons, werewolves etc. to represent the power of nature. When people lived in a natural world, the nature around them was so overwhelming and intimidating that they needed to give expression to that fear, so they created these creatures which are more dangerous and mystical then any existing animal. They embody the intimidation and fear humans feel towards nature.
He also says that in our modern age, we have done the same when we invented these myths about space aliens. We live nowadays surrounded by technology which most of us can't begin to understand, and which is capable of destroying us and everything around us. Just like nature could be overwhelming to the primal man, so this technology stirs a fear in us so we have invented mythical beings who always have technology which is more advanced then our own, and who can judge and destroy us with it.
Fascinating, isn't it?! That makes so much sense! I have always wondered why cultures the world over have invented dragons, even without any contact between them whatsoever.
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