Myths and Metaphors

In what sense can myths and metaphors be true or false? In the sense that, in terms drawn from moral predicaments or from literary psychology, they may report the general movement and the pertinent issue of material facts, and may inspire us with a wise sentiment in their presence. In this sense I should say that Greek mythology was true and Calvinist theology was false.

George Santayana - Some Turns of Thought in Modern Philosophy: Five Essays (1933)


An interesting quote where Santayana says that Greek mythology, the conflicts, quests, battles, heroics, successes, failures, rewards and punishment, magic and mysteries can guide us towards wisdom in the real world. Calvinist theology does not guide us in this way and in this sense is false.

A fascinating distinction because reasoning isn’t about sticking with what we think we know. We may usefully spread our wings via myth and metaphor. We could go on to rephrase Santayana’s quote and make a similar contrast between ancient Greek mythology and our political Calvinists –


In what sense can myths and metaphors be true or false? In the sense that, in terms drawn from moral predicaments or from literary psychology, they may report the general movement and the pertinent issue of material facts, and may inspire us with a wise sentiment in their presence. In this sense I should say that Greek mythology was true and Marxist doctrine is false.