Ecology, Mythology, & Culture
A while back I gave this talk for the Jung Society of Austin, presenting my dissertation work. It’s long, but if you’re interested in the intersection of these three areas, and how our modern lives are influenced and shaped by these forces, then you might skim through it. Enjoy!
The general idea is that the way we humans relate to ourselves and the world around us - especially the non-human world - has always been shaped by mythology. When we’re in a mythology it feels like the common-sense, obvious way that things are, but there are always many ways to see the universe, and especially in an age where human actions have driven our ecology to the brink of collapse it is critical that we be examining the mythology we continue to operate in and the ways it dictates our relations with all this planet’s other beings. I am a strong believer in science, and have a strong background in the sciences, but the scientific paradigm has become the lens through which we relate to others (often including other humans), and it is critical going forward that we recognize the way this mindset has penetrated our ways of life and its limitations. Science is a great tool for understanding the mechanics of the world, but the world is more than mechanics, and we need modern tools to help us approach it from non-mechanical perspectives.