Comments on: Joseph Campbell

By: Kaz Maslanka

Kaz Maslanka — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:53:45 +0000

Paulmet,
It is true myths and metaphors are not fact however, they are more powerful than facts and they are a reflection of the chaotic nature of the human mind. Science may be able to correlate experience however it is no closer to Truth than any other expression.
Kaz

By: paulmct

paulmct — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:54:49 +0000

I admire your courage in your quest for recovery, fulfillment, and meaning, and I wish you luck.

But, if I may, you’re making a mistake that a lot of people make when it comes to science. You’re elevating it to a replacement religion – a methadone religion. Science is not supposed, or claimed, to provide meaning to peoples’ lives. We have to find and provide that ourselves. Science can possibly identify (7) levels of needs that we have, but it doesn’t fill them for us.

Religion is the opiate of the masses. For some, opiates become their religion, as I’m sure you know. Science doesn’t replace those, it only explains them. I accept that there is no outside source of meaning in my life, and I’m OK with that. I hope you will be, too.

I like Campbell, too. He’s right about the universal language of myths. They bridge cultures. It’s amazing that people all over the world tell similar stories, with similar archetypes. They can help us find common ground – as long as we recognize them as myths and metaphors and not facts.

By: mathematicalpoetry

mathematicalpoetry — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:25:12 +0000

Hi,
Joseph Campbell has been a tremendous influence on my work as an artist and mathematical poet. It is interesting that you mention Campbell and mathematics in the same article. I have taken many ideas from Campbell and given them life as mathematical poetry. You may find them interesting.

You may want to check out the polyaesthetic galleries at:

http://www.kazmaslanka.com