EP 47: Mythology & Folklore

Jan 6, 2026

Explore the fascinating world of mythology as humanity's age-old response to death and selfhood. Joseph Campbell dives into the universal themes shared across cultures, revealing that myths, rather than historical facts, guide us toward deeper truths. He contrasts Western and Eastern interpretations, highlighting symbols like the Garden and the Tree. Discover how myths transform from societal roles to personal awakening, encouraging us to find timeless meaning in the present moment. Delve into stories that connect us to eternal values beyond mere existence.

01:22:18

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INSIGHT

Myth Responds To Mortality

Myth arises from human self-awareness and the confrontation with mortality.
It maps the individual's relationship to society and the cosmos as perennial human problems.

insights

INSIGHT

Genesis As Symbol, Not History

Genesis and similar stories are symbolic metaphors, not literal history.
Comparing variants lets us recover their original existential meaning about eternal values.

insights

INSIGHT

Shared Images, Different Readings

The Garden, Tree, and Serpent recur worldwide as images pointing to immortality and awakening.
Eastern and Western traditions read the same images as ignorance versus disobedience.

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Myth's Origin with Human Self-Awareness

07:52 • 4min

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Universal Motifs and Cultural Variation

11:33 • 6min

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Genesis: Historical Versus Symbolic Reading

17:51 • 3min

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Garden, Tree, Serpent: Shared Symbolism

21:06 • 2min

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Christian Cross as the Immortality Tree

22:53 • 3min

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Oriental Reading: Ignorance, Not Disobedience

25:39 • 2min

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Penetrating the Mortal to Find the Eternal

27:32 • 2min

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Myths as Guides to Enduring Values

29:52 • 2min

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Neolithic Revolution and Social Change

31:41 • 3min

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Ritual Evidence: Tools, Burials, and Belief

34:15 • 5min

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Cave Art and Mother Goddess Figurines

39:25 • 2min

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Mother-Father Symbols and Initiation Rites

41:51 • 1min

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Blackfeet Buffalo Myth and Animal Covenant

43:13 • 6min

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Shift to Cosmic Order and Kingship

49:08 • 5min

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Oriental Continuity Versus Western Innovation

53:50 • 3min

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Greek Humanism and Hebrew Theism Compared

56:28 • 3min

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Prometheus, Christ, and the Human Value

59:10 • 2min

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Meaning in the Moment: Myth's Practical Purpose

01:00:51 • 2min

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Distinction Between Mythology and Folklore

01:02:43 • 3min

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Modern Commentary: Archaeology and Revised Views

01:05:43 • 8min

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The Cave-Bear Cult Reconsidered

01:13:34 • 5min

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Why We Prefer Romantic Narratives

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Out of Our Minds

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In this 1966 lecture recorded at the Cooper Union, Joseph Campbell presents mythology as humanity’s oldest response to the awareness of death and selfhood. Across cultures, myth arises not as history but as symbolic language - shaped by shared human concerns about mortality, belonging, and the mystery of existence. While societies differ, the core mythic themes remain constant, revealing a common psychological ground beneath cultural variation.

Campbell contrasts Western and Eastern interpretations of the same mythic images - the Garden, the Tree, the Serpent - to show that myth points not to obedience or belief, but to awakening. As modern society becomes more stable, the role of myth shifts from protecting the group to transforming the individual. The true heroic journey, he suggests, is not escape from the world, but the discovery of timeless meaning within the act of living itself.

Host, Bradley Olson, introduces the lecture and offers commentary at the end.

Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, John Bucher. Editing and audio services by Tristan Batt.

For more information on the MythMaker Podcast Network and Joseph Campbell, visit JCF.org.

All music exclusively provided by APM Music (apmmusic.com)

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