The Story We are Living In

The story we are living out is the story we are living in. And the story we are living in is the story we are living out.

Or, said another way, (in David Naugle's new book, Philosophy: A Student's Guide), "Alasdair MacIntyre has taught us to recognize the narrative sources of the moral traditions to which we adhere, especially if we wish to establish coherent, unified lives. Our character and actions are essentially an enacted dramatic narrative. We know neither what to be or what to do unless we can answer the prior question, 'Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?' Stories are of ultimate moral significance."(Philosophy, 77).

How true. If one lives in the story of rational humanism, morality will look one way. If one lives in the story of communistic fatalism, issues of morality will look another way. Or if one lives partly in the story of biblical theism and partly in some other story, then right and wrong take on a different hue. The story is really important. As is where we live.

Controlling Stories – Are Just That

Cultures have controlling stories -- stories that powerfully impact how a people think, and believe, and act. These stories are deeply embedded (and ingrained) in the culture. One way to spot a potential "controlling story" is to keep an eye out for words or phrases that when they are used they seem to invoke something much larger than the mere meaning of the words themselves. They (upon further investigation) invoke a whole story that has impacted and continues to impact the culture. Think of Jewish people - and the word "Temple," or "Holy land," or "Torah." Or take the Metis people of Canada - and the word (person) "Louis Riel." Take the folks of the United States - and the word, "tea party." Take the people of southeast Montana - and the word "Custer." Take the people of Russia - and the word, "gulag." You get the point. Some words only capture little stories - like the word, "malarky." But other words capture stories that are much larger and longer lasting. (Mind you, I am not predicting how large or long lasting the "story" behind "malarky" may be or how much impact it may have.) 


The point is that these culture-controlling stories are so embedded that it only takes a symbol, a word, an allusion - and everyone immediately "gets it;" that is, they understand the conversation at a deeper level than any outsider. Because they are connected via story.