Phasmid
Mr Invisible
then how come it doesn't make more sense?
For example, if the ancients didn't understand that Earth revolves around the Sun, why invent a fantastic notion of a gian Scarab beetle moving it about? Why not simply admit ignorance on the subject and try to understand it through observation and applied reason? If I were an ancient, I wouldn't understand that Earth moves around the Sun, so instead I might make the erroneous claim that the Sun revolves around the Earth.
Sure it's wrong, but it fits limited observation... later cultures may then think, "Ah, I see why they came to that conclusion...". But instead we see stories, which can't possibly be true e.g. the Scarab/Sun example... why? Surely the ancients had reason as well? Did they take it literally? If not, then why bother with the odd... ness...?
Sorry, I doubt I'm making much sense (very late here). I guess the question is, why didn't they keep it simple?
For example, if the ancients didn't understand that Earth revolves around the Sun, why invent a fantastic notion of a gian Scarab beetle moving it about? Why not simply admit ignorance on the subject and try to understand it through observation and applied reason? If I were an ancient, I wouldn't understand that Earth moves around the Sun, so instead I might make the erroneous claim that the Sun revolves around the Earth.
Sure it's wrong, but it fits limited observation... later cultures may then think, "Ah, I see why they came to that conclusion...". But instead we see stories, which can't possibly be true e.g. the Scarab/Sun example... why? Surely the ancients had reason as well? Did they take it literally? If not, then why bother with the odd... ness...?
Sorry, I doubt I'm making much sense (very late here). I guess the question is, why didn't they keep it simple?