[drewie]

Stephen,

I am not a person who easily praise or congratulate people because I am rather cynical even mildly pessimistic in my approach to life but trust me when I say your effort in putting this forum back and running the old forums is very much appreciated. These conversations are very important, they helped me a lot clear up confusion about concepts (back then I was 30) and really helped me relieve stress that stem from confusion and many other stuff. Very important indeed. Anyway enough with that. 🙂

If I may, before I go into the subject of this conversation, suggest, to let people know that this forum is open, somehow, it was by sheer luck that I discovered it existed. Maybe you already notified people and got a message in another email account that I am not using anymore but yeah thought to let you know.

Now about science and myth. Thanks for the excerpt that is invaluable information to have and before it is even published makes it even more so. I kinda agree that we should make an effort to mythologize in the most sincere sense but then when I am thinking about the dangers of mythologizing stuff, you know that thing Campbell said “people are fighting and dying for metaphors” down in the middle east just to point how much metaphors are misunderstood for fact, it makes me hesitant about doing it.

A good modern example would be the movie “Interstellar”, after the movie was released every “famous” scientist tried to deconstruct it and say how accurate the movie was in term of science which ofcourse was not the point of the movie and I can only guess how many people would indulge at the idea that there are interdimensional beings that manipulate space and time trying to help us etc which was not the point of the movie again. It cuts both ways when you use a metaphor that is aesthetically realistic and uses factual information to say something about something that transcends understanding.  This is just a small example that turns me away from the idea of trying to mythologize science and thats why I like the roles to be clearly defined. In other words I kinda refuse to see science as myth and myth as a science. Totally different things in my mind at this point in time. I am pretty sure I am missing something wouldn’t be the first time lol but yeah.. 🙂

That being said I agree with the second part of your reply “stories we tell ourselves shape what science finds”. Its true that often understanding and discovery is hindered by the short sightedness of society. But then again there are those examples. I am thinking Columbus here (definitely a hero figure) who went against a totally universal undisputed cosmology but that is how strong his conviction was. Another example I am thinking are the first navigators who looked at the sky and instead of seeing Heaven or Valhalla or Zeus sitting on the clouds, saw maps and a way to navigate the seas and many more heroes of science of course. Inspiring stuff. Anyways I ran out of time, catch you all later.