The Stellar Furnace of the Collective Soul: A Speculative Analysis of Mythological Formation Within Space Travel

Abstract

This theoretical dissertation explores the evolution of mythology as humanity embarks on its journey into the cosmos, proposing that the vast expanse of space will give rise to new mythological frameworks. Drawing on the works of Joseph Campbell, C. G. Jung, Ernst Cassirer, and Julia Kristeva, it argues that space exploration—especially interstellar travel—will profoundly reshape the human psyche and demand new mythic forms. By using speculative fiction, such as Frank Herbert’s Dune, Dan Simmons’ Hyperion, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s “Paradises Lost,” as a theoretical laboratory, the dissertation investigates how mythological formation might manifest in humanity’s future among the stars. Ultimately, the dissertation asserts that old myths will dissolve as humanity crosses into interstellar space, and new metaphors and symbolic systems will form. This mythogenesis will redefine human identity and spiritual understanding in space, suggesting that space exploration is not only a scientific and technological venture but also a profound mythological frontier that will transform the human experience on an existential level.