Final answer:
The field that uses real events to explain myth origins is geomythology, which integrates scientific inquiry with the study of myths and legends, serving as an essential social tool by teaching cultural norms and values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The school of myth that uses actual or probable events to explain the origins of mythology is known as geomythology. This interdisciplinary field examines legends and myths to extract scientific truths, often focusing on natural events such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, and even their aftereffects like the discovery of unusual bones. These may have been so impactful that preliterate peoples created fables to 'explain' them.
Discussions about such myths can bridge the gap between the storytelling of mythos and the rationality of logos, blending the supernatural with the logical.
Myths serve the crucial social function of teaching primary principles, values, and norms through stories of culture heroes, the study of which falls under anthropology. The social importance of myth highlights how these stories shape worldviews, explain origins, and reinforce social norms. While myths are not necessarily factual, their value lies in the moral and cultural lessons they impart, influencing societal behavior and understanding.