Joesph Cambell Four Functions of a Mtyh

Seyed Maghloubi (Historical Mythology) Joseph Campbell explains the following four functions of a myth. Its metaphysical function is to awaken us to the mystery and wonder of creation, to open our minds and our senses to an awareness of the confidential inst alone of being, the address of all phenomena. Its cosmological function is to describe the shape of the cosmos, the universe, our total ball, so that the cosmos and all contained within it become vivid and a put out for us, infused with import and significance every corner, every rock, hill, stone, and flower has its place and its meaning in the cosmological scheme which the myth provides.Its sociological function is to pass grim the law, the moral and ethical codes for people of that enculturation to follow, and which help define that culture and its prevailing social structure. Its pedagogical function is to lead us through with(predicate) particular rites of passage that define the various significant peglegs of our l ives-from dependency to maturity to old age, and finally, to our deaths, the final passage. The rites of passage bring us into harmony with the ground of being and allow us to make the journey from one stage to another with a sense of comfort and purpose.The mystical experience, the core apparitional journey that envisions God, has al expressive styles been a tough experience to communicate. Some would advance its impossible to communicate. Others would say that this is the primary function of myth-to find a way to communicate whatever mystical insight has been gained on the journey an dread of the mysteries that underlie the universe an appreciation of its wonders the sense of awe or eagerness experienced. Since these things cant be communicated by direct means, myth speaks in a expression of metaphors, of symbols, and symbolic narratives that arent bound by objective reality.Some believe that the mystical experience is what gives birth to metaphoric language, metaphoric thin king. In our post-Enlightenment western homo, we impart decidedly turned to science to tell us what the shape of the world is. Originally, however, myth performed this function, explaining the cultural history, religion, class structure, origin, even the origin of the geographical features in the surrounding landscape. A myth describes the shape of the world, and infuses each part of that world with meaning and significance.And though a mythic tale may await literally false in our world today, it was once considered true, and it still expresses a metaphorical truth. Campbell explains that the sociological function of myth is to support and validate a particular social order. The myth will make it clear who is in charge, what ethical code is appropriate, what the institutional rituals will be. The problem is that these codes are fixed, exchangeable the natural order, for all time they are not subject to change. Our myths, consort to Campbell, are seriously outdated.Changing tim e require new myths, and since our measure are changing so very rapidly, the myth-making function cant keep up. As a result, we are practically myth-less. Campbell felt we needed to expand into more than more than we presently have. This is the aspect of myth that teaches us how to pass into and live all the differing stages of our lives. Our myths (as religion) give us rituals to live by, rites of passage to accomplish. We learn how to encounter at the world, at ourselves, from birth till death. Because he felt they were all true, Campbell believed myth could teach us important lessons about how to live.