A myth is an image in terms of which we try to make sense of the world. Alan Watts
Today is the birthday of Alan Watts (1915-73), an English popularizer of Eastern philosophies for Western audiences. Sometimes people's quotes from the past can quickly seemed dated and obsolete...even wildly wrong. But Watts had a plethora of material that resounds strongly in today's world...the above quote captures a great truth of how people interpret reality and try to construct an order, however artificial, that fits the narratives they are most comfortable with. The problems arise when the narratives are blatantly false, or at least severely distorted...but people, having a tribal nature and desperately wanting to fit in with their valued group, stubbornly adhere to them out of fear of belittlement or being ostracized if they think independently as individuals. The emperor may have no clothes, wearing masks and getting vaccinated are effective and safe ways to prevent the spread of Covid and complications from infection, and Biden really did legitimately win the 2020 election. But go up against someone's strongly cherished myth, one from which they derive a sense of acceptance from others in their identified "tribe": I dare you...no, I triple dog dare you!
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