English translation?

Question:"but there is a fourth function of myth, and this is the one that i think everyone must try today to relate to--and that is the pedagogical function, of how to live a human lifetime under any circumstances." -joseph campbell, the power of myth


i dont understand what he is saying, i looked up pedagogical on dictionary.com and it said "the art of teaching". what does that have to do with living under any circumstances?

Answers:
Campbell was saying that myths serve a pedagogical (teaching) function - they can teach people how to live under any circumstances. A myth is a valuable tool to transcend our social limitations. Those seeking liberation need to transcend the understanding of reality as imposed on them by their oppressors and the prejudices created by their own thinking.

George Lucas, the creator of the "Star Wars" epics, was a self-proclaimed disciple of Campbell and Jung. Certainly "Star Wars" had a mythological perspective. It showed the state as a machine and asks, "is the machine going to crush humanity or serve humanity?"
Well, this is just me talking, but I think what he's trying to say that the fourth function of myth is to show people that no matter what their situation is in life, no matter how bad their outlook is, it's possible for them to rise above and live.
It means:

But there's another reason why we have myths. It is the universal myth, one we must all try to relate to. That we can learn how to live under any circumstances.

He's basically saying that one myth in our lives is that we will always be able to adjust.

Good luck!
Restated, Campbell is saying:

Myths do four things. The fourth thing is this: They teach us how to live a human lifetime under any circumstances. I think everyone must try to do this today.

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