Chapter 1Chapter 1

Myth, Science, Myth, Science, Philosophy, and the Philosophy, and the

PresocraticsPresocratics

The Conflict Between Myth and The Conflict Between Myth and ScienceScience

What characterizes mythic thinking? Who What characterizes mythic thinking? Who were the Presocratics? What were the Presocratics? What

characterizes their thinking? How do characterizes their thinking? How do mythic thinking and Presocratic thinking mythic thinking and Presocratic thinking

complement and conflict with one complement and conflict with one another? How does Presocratic thinking another? How does Presocratic thinking

pave the way for philosophy and for pave the way for philosophy and for science?science?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Imagine that in the world you live in there Imagine that in the world you live in there is no science…. You life consists of a is no science…. You life consists of a series of events that intrude into your field series of events that intrude into your field of experience…. How would you feel? of experience…. How would you feel? Secure, or disorientated? Would you try to Secure, or disorientated? Would you try to make sense of the world around you? make sense of the world around you?

How?How?

Lightning strikes!Lightning strikes!What caused this? Why did it strike What caused this? Why did it strike mymy dwelling, dwelling, and not someone else’s? Perhaps I’m being and not someone else’s? Perhaps I’m being punished in some way. But by whom? And if this is punished in some way. But by whom? And if this is so, how do I appease my punisher? so, how do I appease my punisher?

Worse yet—if my punisher is so powerful as to be Worse yet—if my punisher is so powerful as to be able to command even the skies, how could I even able to command even the skies, how could I even comprehend what it would want of me…?comprehend what it would want of me…?

How could these questions be answered?How could these questions be answered?

F.M. Cornford and Mythic Thinking as F.M. Cornford and Mythic Thinking as Emerging from Self-CenterednessEmerging from Self-Centeredness

Cornford on MythCornford on Myth What are the What are the

advantages of advantages of Cornford’s account of Cornford’s account of mythic thinking?mythic thinking?

What are the What are the disadvantages of disadvantages of Cornford’s account of Cornford’s account of mythic thinking?mythic thinking?

PRESOCRATIC THINKINGPRESOCRATIC THINKING

Is mythic thinking the only sort of narrative that we can Is mythic thinking the only sort of narrative that we can give to try to explain the universe in which we live?give to try to explain the universe in which we live?

What other possibilities could there be? Try to think of at What other possibilities could there be? Try to think of at least two alternatives… One might be obvious to you, least two alternatives… One might be obvious to you, but what could the other be?but what could the other be?

In striving to think of this, you’re placing yourself in the In striving to think of this, you’re placing yourself in the same inquiring, questioning, same inquiring, questioning, puzzledpuzzled position as the position as the ancients….ancients….

The Milesian School: The Milesian School: Thales and AnaximanderThales and Anaximander

Look around you. Look around you.

Why might you think that everything in the Why might you think that everything in the world could be explained in terms of world could be explained in terms of

water?water?

AnaximanderAnaximander

What was your response to Thales’ view What was your response to Thales’ view that everything was made of water?that everything was made of water?

Was it similar in any way to Anaximander’s, Was it similar in any way to Anaximander’s, either in substance, or the techniques you either in substance, or the techniques you

used?used?

If so, how?If so, how?

How was Anaximander a real philosopher, How was Anaximander a real philosopher, rather than just a disciple of Thales?rather than just a disciple of Thales?

Is the trait that he demonstrated here a Is the trait that he demonstrated here a desirabledesirable one? Why, or why not? one? Why, or why not?

The Obscure One, The Dark One, The Obscure One, The Dark One, The RiddlerThe Riddler

Heraclitus claimed that the basic “stuff” of reality is fire.Heraclitus claimed that the basic “stuff” of reality is fire.

How is Fire Fluid?How is Fire Fluid?

WaterWater FireFire

Why Fire?Why Fire?

Why is the fire metaphor so appropriate for Why is the fire metaphor so appropriate for Heraclitus’ views? Heraclitus’ views?

Zombies? Vampires?Zombies? Vampires?

What did Heraclitus mean when he said that What did Heraclitus mean when he said that humans are both “living and dead”?humans are both “living and dead”?

Parmenides and the Eleatic SchoolParmenides and the Eleatic SchoolParmenides argued that statis, stability, and eternal Parmenides argued that statis, stability, and eternal

unchangeability are the true marks of realityunchangeability are the true marks of reality

ParmenidesParmenides

The Way of TruthThe Way of Truth

What is the Truth, for What is the Truth, for Parmenides?Parmenides?

Why does he believe this? Why does he believe this?

The Way of OpinionThe Way of Opinion

What part of the world do What part of the world do those who follow this Way those who follow this Way

focus upon—and why?focus upon—and why?

What, for Parmenides, is What, for Parmenides, is wrong with this?wrong with this?

What do Heraclitus and Parmenides agree What do Heraclitus and Parmenides agree on?on?

Do Do youyou agree with them? agree with them?

The Atomist School: Democritus and The Atomist School: Democritus and LeucippusLeucippus

Atoms are tiny, uncuttable particles of matterAtoms are tiny, uncuttable particles of matter

Atomism and Particle PhysicsAtomism and Particle Physics

Why did the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Why did the Nobel Prize-winning physicist call Democritus the grandfather of modern call Democritus the grandfather of modern

particle physics?particle physics?

A Troubling Conclusion?A Troubling Conclusion?

Do you believe, with Democritus, that Do you believe, with Democritus, that humans are just lumps of matter, no humans are just lumps of matter, no different in kind from clay and dust?different in kind from clay and dust?

Why do you think as you do?Why do you think as you do?

Is it because you’re worried by the Is it because you’re worried by the implications…?implications…?

From Mere Wonder to Wondrous From Mere Wonder to Wondrous DistressDistress

Do you think that it would be best to promote Do you think that it would be best to promote a mythic understanding of the world, or a a mythic understanding of the world, or a

scientific one? scientific one?

Why do you think as you do?Why do you think as you do?

PURSUE TRUTH!PURSUE TRUTH!

In what way should Anaximander be an In what way should Anaximander be an inspiration to everyone?inspiration to everyone?