Science and Empirical Observation

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Empirical observation is the body of science. But what ties facts and figures together? It is one thing to postulate and investigate an inkling. It is quite another to develop a scientific theory that harmoniously explains how all the evidence comes together. Ultimately, science must prove the theory nevertheless, even an inaccurate theory provides a scientific model to contrast new discovery. Computers only understand one and zero—yes and no. However, the human mind can also accommodate “maybe”. Ways of life and matters of faith do not fit into a scientific box. God cannot be empirically observed. Although science boldly moves towards discovering the origins of the universe and man, origin myths offer us paradigms to help us understand discoveries of the soul. Similarly, mythological legends may lend inspiration to leading our own lives and etiological myths may illuminate minds to ceremonial meaning. These are but a few of the functions and values of myths.

A Taoist accepts what is as it is, but myths explain how it came to be, how it is now, and even how it will be. Mythoi, translates from the Greek as story (Smart, p. 71). However, in comparative studies myth does not have the same implication as it does in the scientific community. Such study comes with its own objectivity and for itself refrains from judging a myth’s accuracy. Rather, the focus is on the meaning that a myth conveys to the peoples who share it. Where science is concerned with separating fact from fiction, comparative mythology concentrates on likening folklore and fables across countless cultures. In this context, myth does not equate to misconception but to existential construct. Much like history, myths have the power of binding a cultur...

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...positions with others. On occasion, when enough people seem to agree on a set of conclusions the commonality among them unifies them under a new house of religion as we have seen throughout history.

References

Ouroboros. (2011). Retrieved October 07, 2011, from Encyclopædia Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/435492/Ouroboros

Day, J. M. (1994). Plato's Meno in Focus. New York: Routledge.

Eastman, R. (1999). The Ways of Religion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kohler, K., Husik, I., Morris Jastrow, J., & McCurdy, J. F. (2011). Brazen Serpent. Retrieved 10 22, 2011, from JewishEncyclopedia.com: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3660-brazen-serpent

Smart, N. (1995). Worldviews. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Wilde, O. (n.d.). Oscar Wilde Quotes. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from Quotes.net: http://www.quotes.net/quote/43070

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