The Heroâs Journey: Myth, Suffering and the Self
Joseph Campbell's monomyth and Jung's archetypes decoded: does the hero's journey reveal how we transform through suffering?
Monday 27 July 2026, 17:50 · London, UK · Philosophy Cafe London
Philosophy Cafe London Joseph Campbellâs heroâs journey links neatly with our recent discussions of Jung and suffering: why do so many cultures tell stories of people who leave home, face danger, are changed by ordeal, and return with new insight?
In this discussion, weâll look at Campbellâs famous idea of the âmonomythâ as a philosophical question about myth, meaning and self-transformation. Does the heroâs journey reveal something deep about human experience â suffering, courage, death, rebirth, individuation â or is it simply a seductive pattern we impose on very different stories?
Weâll also connect Campbellâs ideas back to Jungâs archetypes, shadow and collective unconscious, asking whether the hero myth gives symbolic form to the inner process of becoming more whole.
Finally, weâll ask whether heroic narratives still help us make sense of our lives today â or whether they can become narcissistic, simplistic or even dangerous.
You do not need to have studied philosophy or arrive with specialist knowledge. Curiosity and a willingness to join the dialogue are enough.
The conversation does not have to stop when the formal part ends. People often stay afterwards for a drink and a chat, and that informal part helps Philosophy Cafe become a friendly community rather than just a series of events.
**Where:** Downstairs room, Square Pig, Holborn (private room)
**NB**: The event begins at 7pm, doors open at 6:50pm. Event ends at 9pm