Myth is derived from the Greek word ‘mythos’ meaning story. As stories, myths convey how characters undergo or enact an ordered sequence of events. The term ‘myth’ refers to a certain genre of stories with characteristics that noticeably differ from other genres, such as legends and folktales. Myths are symbolic tales of the distant past that concern both cosmogony and cosmology, and may also be connected to belief systems or rituals. Myths can also serve to functionality of society and its values.
In Greek mythology, myths are defined as tales believed as true, usually sacred, set in the distant past or other worlds or parts of the world, and with extra-human, inhuman, or heroic characters. Such myths, often described as “cosmogonic,” or “origin” myths, function to provide order or cosmology, based on “cosmic” from the Greek word ‘kosmos’ meaning …show more content…
A significant contrast is that information about the universe presented in myths is not testable, whereas science is designed to be tested persistently. Science depends on cumulative, regularly updated knowledge, whereas myth is based on passed down stories and beliefs. Myths may alter over time, especially after contact with other cultures, but they do not change and adapt to new periods and technological developments in the same manner science does. Myths may be enacted through rituals and completely believed, but they usually do not have any physical effects in the real world, such as leading to new technology for engineering computers or providing medical treatment. People may believe they are cured through faith, and may find valuable sentiments in myths, but these "real world results" are neither generally recurrent nor practical (two standard criteria for science). Although science differs from myth in offering actual, testable control over the environment and producing real, repeatable results in the world, science is not completely dissociated from
In Greek mythology, myths are defined as tales believed as true, usually sacred, set in the distant past or other worlds or parts of the world, and with extra-human, inhuman, or heroic characters. Such myths, often described as “cosmogonic,” or “origin” myths, function to provide order or cosmology, based on “cosmic” from the Greek word ‘kosmos’ meaning …show more content…
A significant contrast is that information about the universe presented in myths is not testable, whereas science is designed to be tested persistently. Science depends on cumulative, regularly updated knowledge, whereas myth is based on passed down stories and beliefs. Myths may alter over time, especially after contact with other cultures, but they do not change and adapt to new periods and technological developments in the same manner science does. Myths may be enacted through rituals and completely believed, but they usually do not have any physical effects in the real world, such as leading to new technology for engineering computers or providing medical treatment. People may believe they are cured through faith, and may find valuable sentiments in myths, but these "real world results" are neither generally recurrent nor practical (two standard criteria for science). Although science differs from myth in offering actual, testable control over the environment and producing real, repeatable results in the world, science is not completely dissociated from