What is the purpose of mythology?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: What is the purpose of mythology?
Position‹3 of 4›: Mythology unites societies
Argument: Mythology brings people together

Mythology strengthens culture by establishing a unifying moral code, providing a form of escapism, and creating a common set of beliefs about the world.

The argument

Mythology fulfills one function without question: it unites entire peoples with a common cultural narrative. In ancient times, this was a critical task, helping societies stand together in the face of natural threats like famines, droughts, and illnesses that often plagued them, as well as conflicts and wars with other societies. By instilling the same set of beliefs-and by extension, the same moral codes-into cultures, myths allow them to become closer and stronger. In addition, myths served as a sort of coping mechanism for whole societies, further bringing them together. By explaining once-inexplicable aspects of the natural (and internal) world, myths simplified the lives of the people who were so devoted to them. Many myths also promised a reprieve from the trials of the mortal world. No matter how badly a person suffered on earth, they could be sure that Vahalla, Elysium, or the Field of Reeds was waiting for them on the other side. Even today, modern mythology, like superhero fiction-or, to some, religion-fulfills the same function, bringing together subcultures, establishing a unifying moral code, and providing a form of escapism. It is evident mythology is far more than mere fairy tales. Rather, it is a crucial ingredient for a well-functioning, unified culture.

Premises

[P1]Shared beliefs and moral codes bind people into stronger, more cohesive societies. [P2] Mythology instills common beliefs and moral codes by providing unifying narratives, explanations of the world, and shared promises of escape from suffering. [P3] This unifying function persists today through modern mythologies like superhero fiction and religion, which bind subcultures around shared values and escapism. [C] Therefore, mythology's purpose is to unite societies around a common cultural narrative.

Counter-arguments

While such unification is certainly a side effect of mythology, that is not its main purpose. The creators of ancient myths did not invent them with the goal of uniting their peoples in mind. Rather, it is more likely that they were attempting to explain the world around them. In addition, this argument glosses over the fact that most people in ancient times genuinely believed the myths that inculcated their cultures. For example, an ancient Greek did not worship the gods simply because it brought their community together; he did so because he believed he would be punished if he didn’t.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] That shared beliefs bind societies is not in dispute, but it does not follow that whatever binds a society exists in order to bind it; cohesion can be a by-product of myth rather than its purpose. [Rejecting P2] Myth-makers were not designing social glue. The premise's own picture — peoples who genuinely believed their myths and who worshipped from conviction or fear of punishment rather than from fellow-feeling — points to explanation of the world as the original function, with unity following on. [Rejecting P3] The modern analogues cut both ways: superhero fiction and religion sort their audiences into rival fandoms and denominations as readily as they unite them, so the persistence of shared narrative does not demonstrate a unifying purpose.