Ebook: The wisdom of the myths: how Greek mythology can change your life

"A fascinating new journey through Greek mythology that explains the myths' timeless lessons and meaning. Heroes, gods, and mortals. The Greek myths are the founding narratives of Western civilization: to understand them is to know the origins of philosophy, literature, art, science, law, and more. Indeed, as Luc Ferry shows in this masterful book, they remain a great store of wisdom, as relevant to our lives today as ever before. No mere legends or clichés ("Herculean task," "Pandora's box," "Achilles heel," etc.), these classic stories offer profound and manifold lessons, providing the first sustained attempt to answer fundamental human questions concerning "the good life," the burden of mortality, and how to find one's place in the world. Vividly retelling the great tales of mythology and illuminating fresh new ways of understanding them, The Wisdom of the Myths will enlighten readers of all ages"--Publisher's description.;Prologue. Greek mythology: for whom? For what? -- The birth of the gods and of the universe -- From the birth of the gods to that of mortals -- The wisdom of Odysseus, or, The reconquest of a lost harmony -- Hubris: the cosmos menaced by a return to chaos, or, How the absence of wisdom spoils the existence of mortals -- Dikè and Cosmos: the hero's first mission, to guarantee cosmic order against the return of chaos -- The misfortunes of Oedipus and of his daughter Antigone, or, Why mortals are so often "punished" without having sinned -- Conclusion. Mythology and philosophy: the lesson of Dionysus and secular spirituality.