-Smith was interested in information theory. Smith is a biologist.

-Smith starts by defining what is a myth.

A Myth: is a story with a moral message. Myths are false stories. For example, the Adam and Eve story is a myth. Smith includes creation of myths in myths.

-What is the function of these myths? What are they designed to do? One function of the myths according to Smith is to define our place in nature and give it sense and value. Where did we come from? What is the purpose of life? What is our relationship with the rest of the world?

Humans are predisposed to information beyond chance

-People have a pre-disposition to impose meaning upon change. We have an instinct to project meaning onto the world. For example, ink on a paper is meaning less. Look at abstract art. People project their meaning onto the art. Everything happens for a reason. We need to rise above this. We can’t let this pre-disposition control us. Projecting meaning onto change is a big reason why most people in the public can’t understand the process of natural selection.

The power of myths: myths exist the imagination. We can think about them anytime and anywhere.

Pride

-The original sin is pride. Pride is the first and second sin in history. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the snake. Pride is a human’s weakness that has to b overcome. Does Adam and Eve really exist? Maybe Adam and Eve did not exist. Without myths we would kill ourselves.

Post Modernism

-There is no such thing as facts and knowledge. It is just a matter of view of perspective. We should just allow everyone to express him or herself. (This is popular in education).

Hardcore Postmodernists and people who belong to fundamental religions

-They believe that science is just another myth. People who don’t want to study how science works and people that don’t accept science make claims like science is just another myth. Culture equality is what people don’t like to say why science is epistemological. If science is not a myth and it is an engine of knowledge we have to take a serious look at science.

-There has been a lot of progress in science. For example, Mendel created genes in the 1860s. Mendel created modern genetics. Then in 50 years we discovered DNA. The science of genetics has grown dramatically and it is still growing. We would probably die without science. Laser technology came from quantum physics. It is used for laptops. Myth making can’t come close to any of this. Many people are anti science because of technology. These are both different things. (Politics can’t determine good scholarship. You need to keep it separate from philosophy and science).