Myths We Live By

<p>With a new Introduction by the author</p><p>'An elegant and sane little book. – <em>The New Statesman</em></p><p>Myths as Mary Midgley argues in this powerful book are everywhere. In political thought they sit at the heart of theories of human nature and the social contract; in economics in the pursuit of self interest; and in science the idea of human beings as machines which originates in the seventeenth century is a today a potent force. Far from being the opposite of science however Midgley argues that myth is a central part of it. Myths are neither lies nor mere stories but a network of powerful symbols for interpreting the world. Tackling a dazzling array of subjects such as philosophy evolutionary psychology animals consciousness and the environment in her customary razor-sharp prose <em>The Myths We Live By </em>reminds us of the powerful role of symbolism and the need to take our imaginative life seriously. </p><p>Mary Midgley is a moral philosopher and the author of many books including <em>Wickedness</em> <em>Evolution as a Religion</em> <em>Beast and Man </em>and <em>Science and Poetry</em>. All are published in Routledge Classics.</p>