To build on your thoughts I would say that narratives are the glue that bind and distinguish our societies and give meaning to the the individuals within those societies. They are largely synonymous with religious, political and economic ideologies.<p>It&#x27;s interesting today, in a world more connected than ever, to see how these narratives rub up against each other. It is clear that not all narratives have equal value. Older and more static narratives in particular aren&#x27;t doing so great.<p>How would we evaluate a narrative? One way is by it&#x27;s practical effects on peoples&#x27; lives and the levels of health and suffering it actively promotes, for both its adherents and opponents.<p>Another way is by the narrative&#x27;s approximation to absolute reality. Thanks to the scientific method and its tools we are creeping closer to achieving an objective understanding of reality (although we are unlikely to ever reach one).<p>It seems obvious (at least to me) that understanding reality better will allow us to create better narratives and therefore enable us to think and act better. In other words, basing our actions on a narrative that is as true as possible would likely lead to better practical effects.<p>Of course measuring the positive or negative value of a narrative&#x27;s effects is somewhat subjective, and what is &#x27;better&#x27; for one person might not be for another, or even for the same person later on. For instance, when people use relatively poor narratives to give meaning to their suffering it might be some comfort to them (and therefore seem positive) but ultimately will lead to action that causes more suffering.<p>TL;DR: A better existence is achievable if we do not just accept whatever narratives are thrust upon us but instead actively refine and change them based on their practical results and to more closely approximate reality.