Whether or not a society actually practices cannibalism, these conceptions are often articulated at the level of folklore and myth, where flesh-eating is imbued with symbolic meanings centered on ideas about regeneration after death, the equivalence between human flesh and food, and the morality of social exchange in and between groups.
Myth, Ritual, and Philosophy in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea
Exploring the convergence of voices across cultures, this work delves into how myths serve as tools for understanding the universe's fundamental nature. The authors emphasize that interpretations of myths evolve with changing circumstances, influenced by interactions between Western and non-Western cultures and significant events. They argue that the flow of experiences, rather than the events themselves, is essential for modeling human sociality, highlighting the dynamic interplay of societal beliefs and contexts throughout history.