Fairy Tales may be Ancient, Researcher Says

[Malthus]

This is interesting:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6142964/Fairy-tales-have-ancient-origin.html

In summary: a researcher has tabulated various versions of fairy tales like little red riding hood, and claims that the story has a "common ancestor" more than two millenia old:

Contrary to the view that the tale originated in France shortly before Charles Perrault produced the first written version in the 17th century, Dr Tehrani found that the varients shared a common ancestor dating back more than 2,600 years.

What i'm not so sure about is: diffusion, or independant invention? Maybe the story arises in various times because it contains themes appealing to people across a wide range of cultures. 

[Razgovory]

I think it's likely that it's just general themes.  Someone bad is using deception to hurt someone.  Greeks and Aztecs had divine twins in their mythology though I doubt they came from the same source.

[Ed Anger]

Great, Spellus is going to pontificate on more useless ancient shit now.

[Martinus]

Now, I admit it's possible I got this idea originally from fantasy authors (especially Pratchett and Gaiman), but I thought this was a well-established fact.

[Josquius]

I think it's likely that it's just general themes.  Someone bad is using deception to hurt someone.  Greeks and Aztecs had divine twins in their mythology though I doubt they came from the same source.

Bollocks. What are the chances of that happening? Its clearly evidence for the ancient Atlantean civilization.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Variation on Jungian archetypes?

[Caliga]

Bollocks. What are the chances of that happening? Its clearly evidence for the ancient Atlantean civilization.

OMG GET GRAHAM HANCOCK ON THE BAT PHONE 

[Darth Wagtaros]

Chariots of the Gods people! Aliens are responsible for this.

[saskganesh]

Variation on Jungian archetypes?

yeah, seems to be. it's well established that certain myths, with local variations,  recur throughout time and cultures. the idea that they are rooted in our specie's deep mental makeup is fascinating.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Quite.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

I thought that was common knowledge.

[swallow]

Variation on Jungian archetypes?

yeah, seems to be. it's well established that certain myths, with local variations,  recur throughout time and cultures. the idea that they are rooted in our specie's deep mental makeup is fascinating.

Almost the next step along from instinct - complex brains? - maybe as a way of reacting more quickly to a set situation - and surviving etc etc

[Malthus]

I thought that was common knowledge.

I think it was common supposition. I remember debating with Minsky on a similar point a while ago.

[Malthus]

Variation on Jungian archetypes?

yeah, seems to be. it's well established that certain myths, with local variations,  recur throughout time and cultures. the idea that they are rooted in our specie's deep mental makeup is fascinating.

This is the question: archetype, diffusion, or a mix?

[Razgovory]

Variation on Jungian archetypes?

I thought that had to do with some universal conscience