My Cognitive Map:

Explanation:

From birth we are learning. We each learn what our family and social circumstances teach us. They teach us by their actions, words and how they interact with us and others. It seems also clear that we have biological characteristics that predispose us to actions like using language, eating, sleeping, having sex, competing with one another and dying. We make sense of our lives by using stories, or narratives, that place us in the story. The story tells us who we are -- that is, what our role is in the story. It also gives us the sense of purpose by explaining what the universe is, whether it is good or bad. The story also tells us how we should act in order to be the best we can be. I shall call these kinds of stories metanarratives because they are meta (that which follows, or beyond) narratives (stories). This is not my word but the word used when referring to these kinds of stories. The simplest of these is: "God loves you and so do I." It tells us that the world is good and the power that rules the world loves us. It also tells us that the person who says it loves us.

We can break these metanarratives down into different types.

A metanarrative that is complete and leaves no questions for us to answer gives us a sense of certainty. A story of this type tells us how everything began, why it began, why things are the way they are, and how things are going to go. The issues for a person in this kind of metanarrative concern how we should act to control ourselves so that we do well in the story. The more certain the metanarrative, the more fundamental it is.

A metanarrative that is incomplete and leaves lots of questions for us to answer gives us a sense of uncertainty. A story of this type tells us we do not know how everything began, why it began, why things are the way they are, and how things are going to go. The issues for a person in this kind of metanarrative concern how we should act to control ourselves in a world that seems to have no good or bad. The more uncertain the metanarrative, the more critical or “scientific” it is.

A metanarrative that describes the purpose of life in terms of our own happiness or pleasure focuses on the self. A story of this type tells each of us that "I" am the most important part of the story. Whether the story tends to be certain or uncertain the role "I" should play depends on what is best for me.

A metanarrative that describes the purpose of life in terms of our duty toward the survival and best interest of others focuses on the community. A story of this type tells each of us that "We" are the most important part of the story. Whether the story tends to be certain or uncertain the role "I" should play depends on what is best for the community.

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