Mythology

Mythology is a very interesting subject that can really expand the ideas of people if used properly. Myths are created through the imagination, even if they are parables of sorts. Regardless of the overall intention of myths (if there even is one,) the fact remains that it takes creativity in order to develop them.

Plato believes that myths are bad for society because they deceive us. They make people believe that they can be like Hercules or Odysseus, when in reality people like them rarely exist, if at all. On top of that, the situations they are in are rarely seen by the common man, and so to make society look at these men as a form of "guidelines" to how to be a man would do nothing except deflate their hopes.

Personally, I think Plato couldn't be more wrong on that subject. He has too little faith in the capabilities of the human mind. Sir Phillip Sidney said it well when he claimed that people SHOULD look up to these men as guidelines, as the morals and lessons they teach will help carve these men into stronger individuals that will better assist the common man. The power of the human mind is vast, more than Plato gives it credit for. We as readers can tell the difference between ourselves and Hercules, we know what he can do and what we cannot do.

Mythology is a wonderful tool in the upbringing of children. Take Santa Claus, for instance. He is a mythical person, and he gives hope and happiness every december to hundreds of thousands of children. He brings families together even though he is not real, and when the child learns that Santa Clause is not real, yes they go through a short sad stage in life, but their outlook on the world is rarely skewed in a permanent deformed manner. They eventually accept the reality of it and move on with their lives, letting that innocence either fade away on let it live on within them. If Plato thinks that is a bad thing, then I'd love to meet him in person and teach him a thing or two about happiness...