Why we need stories even if they are false

While ancient philosophers - specifically Aristotle and Kant - were struggling to wrap their minds around the concept of imagination, societies and settlements around the world lived under conditions that were heavily influenced by what some might call imagined stories. These stories were mere ideologies that people believed and identified themselves by. Ideologies - like the belief in the imperialism of the Roman Empire - governed the way of life of many Europeans, Northern Africans, Mesopotamians and other communities in that era. 

However imagined or foolproof these stories and ideologies might be, we may not be where we are without them. 

Aristotle never really defined imagination. Instead, he emphasized the difference between imagination and perception. For him, perception is a function of what we already know but imagination occurs in the absence of true perception. Anyone can perceive and imagine things but they can’t do both at the same time. More so, Aristotle believed that perception is always true but imagination can be false. 

If imagination can be false, why are so many ideologies actually imagined stories?

Everything we know was either communicated to us or experienced by us. Parents are usually the first to share stories about their lived experiences - or those they’ve been told - to their children. The children go on to learn more stories from extended family members, individuals in their communities and schools, and from the information shared by media outlets. All these entities play a role in sharing stories with children. As children mature, they gather their own experiences and then, they compare and contrast these experiences with the stories they’ve been told. In the end, the children either double down on the stories they’ve been told or dismiss these stories altogether. 

If our outlook on life is based on stories we’ve been told, who told the first story? Did this pioneer storyteller have all the facts when they shared their stories? How do we know that their stories were based on a true perception of their reality as opposed to their imagination?

Your answers to these questions will depend on what you believe

Depending on what you believe, you may be convinced that your answers are the absolute truth. However, the irony is even your beliefs may be based on stories that have no actual roots or validity. Yet, every day, you - and I - make decisions and judgements based on our unfounded beliefs. All over the world, people are united by beliefs, communities become stronger as members commit to a belief system, corporations brand their products and make a profit off the beliefs of their target consumers, and governments rule and pass laws based on beliefs. 

Our beliefs are fundamental to our way of life. Yet, what we believe isn’t always what we know - and many at times, what we know is a function of the stories we’ve been told. Religion, politics, laws, philosophy, history (as we know it) and many more worldviews are heavily influenced by stories we’ve been told. If we agree that these stories could either be perceived or imagined, is our way of life the way of life? Should we live our lives according to the principles of religious, political, philosophical or historical worldviews? Should the origin story of the stories we live by matter to us or should we continue to have faith in our current socio-cultural systems? Should we be more mindful of the stories we share with our children or are we certain the stories we know are exactly what our children need for their future? 

The conflict lies in the validity of our stories

It is difficult for anyone to have full proof that our stories are perceived or imagined or a combination of both. Every generation is unknowingly tasked with a mandate to pass down stories to the next generation. It has been that way since the beginning of life - as we know it. Many people have played their role in doing this but few have questioned the sincerity of their roles. The reason behind this is the fact that we need stories to survive. 

Survival is the most basic human instinct. It is at the core of everything we do. We believe in the principle of survival more than anything else but what we know about survival is based on stories that are both perceived and imagined. We perceive hunger so we know we need food. We can imagine dying from hunger so that reinforces our need for food. Stories are our survival mechanism. We may not be where we are without stories. 

Stories connect the dots between what we know and what we don’t know

Stories give us a sense of order by acting as traffic signals that tell us when to go, pause or stop. They help us make somewhat informed decisions. A father may tell his child not to touch fire because it burns and causes pain. The child, who already has a perception of pain, may choose to believe that story and avoid touching fire for the rest of their life. A husband or wife may tell their partner how they can’t live without their partner and how much joy their partner brings to their life. The partner may choose to believe that story and conclude that they are the most important person in their partner’s life. A nation’s government may brand itself as an entity that fights for the freedom of oppressed peoples around the world. Communities of oppressed peoples might believe that story and allow the said government to use any measures possible to free them from their oppressors even if it comes at the expense of the development of that community. 

These are stories that are being told every day. Every one of us has stories that we were told and we chose to believe. We believed them because we needed them. At the time, and maybe even now, the stories were exactly what we needed to hear. They seemed - and may very well be - our only way out. The stories were our path to redemption. For many of us, if our path to redemption involves choosing to believe stories that may be imagined - and as such, false - then so be it. The majority of us would choose false and imagined stories over punishment, pain or death. 

Choose your stories, wisely

Like in the times of ancient philosophers, the concept of imagination is still elusive to us. We don’t have space and time to distinguish perceived stories from imagined stories but we, also, can’t afford to not believe any story. In fact, it can be argued that the absence of belief in any story is equal to death. Every living human - no matter who you are - has to believe and live by a story. We can’t do without them but what we can do, however, is to carefully choose what we believe. 

Just as a child matures, gathers their own experiences and then, compares and contrasts these experiences with the stories they’ve been told, we can be mindful of the stories we choose to double down on and share with others. This way, we can continue to have the means to survive but do so on our own terms.