Columbia, South Carolina Study Center

Is Our Worldview Shaped by the Maps We Create?
Date: 3/21/2020 2:30:00 PM
Topic of Study: Behavioral Science
Presenter: Bro. Sandy McKeown
Synopsis: For centuries mankind has relied on maps to navigate the seas, travel continents, or follow established trade routes. Accurate maps were often true treasures of knowledge and highly sought after. Other maps were more decorative and marvels of art and craftsmanship. We still rely heavily on maps to find our ways through the city, state, or across a continent but the appearances have changed drastically. Many of them are completely digital but nevertheless not less valuable. All maps, in present or past times, are created by the human mind. The cartographer makes deliberate choices on what to include, how to represent different features, scale, color schemes, and in doing so creates an image of his mind or society's view on the given region. How that result is perceived by another depends on the user of the map as well. This holds true for each of us and raises an interesting question: Are maps just a representation of our world's image or are they shaping our worldview as well? We will explore this question from a Masonic perspective using old and current maps.