Learning from Myths

 Learning about Greek myths is not just about fanciful stories. It is also looking at the human dilemma. As I am preparing my lesson plan for the upcoming Grade 4 class, I am taking a hard look at what Greek mythology can contribute to children's lives and development.
  One theory about the value of learning Greek myths comes from Luc Ferry who, in his book, The Wisdom Of Myths, suggests that mythologies teach children about a harmonious order in the universe, sometimes referred to as "chaos". On top of elaborating the creation stories and ideas about how the gods and goddesses came to populate the world, Greek myths articulate the role that humans play in the world. As Ferry puts it, the question related to humans is "How are men (sic) going to insert themselves into this universe of gods that does not seem, in any a priori sense, to have been made for mankind?" (p.32). What impresses me about this question is how it transcends the actual narratives of cosmos and order that pervade Greek myths and stories, suggesting instead an underlying sensibility of paying respects to the various forces that govern the human world. According to this view of mythology, the world is depicted as peopled with different forms so that we can learn as humans to respect our place in the world, to "know ourselves" and thus, in doing so, know what is apportioned to us in the universe. If I overstep my bounds by trying to aspire to unrealistic dreams, I am "punished" through a negative consequence--which might, in modern psychological parlance, be something like melancholy, narcissism, or any number of disorders that separate people mentally from the world they live in and create great amounts of anxiety. If, on the other hand, I am clear about what I am able to do in this moment and stick with what is workable to me, then the result will be the "reward" of harmony with the cosmos: the gods look to us well, we have good affinities with different powers, and we are supported by the forces around us.
   I have to admit that, while this kind of moral universe is good to introduce to children, one also needs to develop critical acumen not to take the mythological order too literally, particularly as a way of asserting the supremacy of a "natural" world order. We all know the consequences of such an idea, including oppression of people throughout history. On top of this, once the students do reach adolescence, they will for sure start to challenge the notion that there are actual "natural" limits to human endeavors. Existentialism, a philosophy which many are introduced to in their senior high school years, eschews the idea that there is a fixed world view that forces people to behave in a certain way. However, I have to admit that the Greek mythical world order does have parallels with that of other religions, including Buddhism (which is both religion and philosophy). While Buddhism does not talk about a world order, it does talk about karma, and the respect for an orderly universe might parallel the attitude of contrition that Buddhist practitioners show toward their teachers and the bodhi mind as well. "Knowing one's limits", in this case, might certainly refer to knowing that one has Buddha nature but is "not yet" a buddha, and hence needs to take their place in practice rather than outstepping their bounds. I quite respect Greek myths as a kind of moral education for young people, although what I most appreciate about it is the way it symbolizes struggles that many people face in their lives.

Ferry, Luc, (2014). The Wisdom of the Myths: How Greek Mythology Can Change Your Life. New York: Harper Collins